Community Solar- An Opportunity for Troy, NY –

presented to:

FUUSA

presented by:

Transition TroySteve Andersen

transitionsteve@yahoo.com

December 8, 2013

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Today’s Objectives

1. Introduction to community solar, aka ‘solarize’2. List of next steps3. Discussion of other opportunities

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What Stops People From Going Solar?

• Perceived High Cost• Technical Complexity• Not Enough Time to Figure it All Out

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Community Solar Goals

• Reduce price of solar installations• Screen vendor proposals to offer a few sets of well

designed solar configurations• Increase the annual rate of solar installations

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How does Community Solar work?

• Overcomes COST: Competitive bidding and bulk purchasing discounts

• Overcomes Complex Process: Community Education and outreach

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Program Options

• Solar Photo-Voltaic (PV; electricity)

• Solar Thermal (domestic hot water)

• Ground Mounted and Roof Mounted

• Purchase and Lease; Low-interest Loans, Incentive Grants

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The Solarize Process

• Form a steering committee• Designate Project Manager• Organize volunteers• Send out a request for proposals (RFP)• Select winning proposal• Define tiered pricing structure• Public education outreach• Once an installer is chosen, begin enrollment, conduct

workshops• Enrollees contacted by selected installer

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Sample Components of Outreach and Education

• Solar education workshops & Q&A meetings• Neighborhood canvassing/block parties• Solar open houses/tours• Articles in the press• Radio interviews• Ads in the local papers• Posters, quarter-cards, etc.

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Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Request for Proposals (RFP)released to Installers

Review of Installer Proposals

Preliminary Public Outreach

Campaign Sign-Up Open

Systems Under Installation

Celebration

Program Review

2013 Timeline

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Base Price = $3.75/WBase Price = $3.05/W

Initial Pricing of System $19,500 

$15,860

NYSERDA Rebate (paid to installer) $1.40/W Incentive is reduced to $1.10/W

-$7,280 -7,280

Out of Pocket Cost (basis for tax credits) $12,220 

$8,580

Federal Tax Credit  30% Installation costs

-$3,666 

-$2,574

State Tax Credit  25% capped at $5,000 lifetime credit – roll over 5 yrs

-$3,055 -$2,145

Final Cost to Customer at Base Price Assuming all tax credits are realized

$5,499 $3,861

Sample numbers for a 5.2 kWroof-mounted Solar PV system in Tompkins County

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Not all participants will qualify for tax credits, please see your tax professional for specific information related to your individual tax situation.

Solar installations in Tompkins County

Solarize Tompkins SE (Caroline, Danby, Dryden) 2013 as of 21 August:•50 Solar PV contracts, 292 kW (at least 100 projected!)•26 Solar Hot Water contracts

Data from NYSERDA Powerclerk

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From Myers, J., J. Hart, P. Hofmeyer. 2013. Solarize Madison Pilot (2012): Program Evaluation and Lessons Learned.

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www.solarizetompkinsse.org

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www.solarizemadison.com

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Solarize Handbook

• Background on the program as it was developed in Portland with support from the DOE and others• Brief case studies of

other Solarize programs nationwide

Available at: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54738.pdf 15

Next Steps

1. Transition Troy introducing community solar2. Transition Albany introduced concept to Mayor

Elect Kathy Sheehan3. Concept to be introduced to

1. Transition Schenectady2. Sustainable Saratoga3. Delmar (Bill Reinhardt)

4. Other?

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