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Webinar Series: COMMUNITY SOLAR
101
January 23, 2013 2:00pm EST
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Our Mission
The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce
and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the
environment, and promote social justice.
Program Areas: Redefining the Dream Beyond Consumerism
Collaborative Communities
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What is Community Solar?
A solar system that provides power and/or financial benefit to,
or is owned by, multiple community members.
• No “one size fits all” model!
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Today’s Speakers
• Anya Schoolman Executive Director -
Community Power Network Co-Founder -
Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative Washington, DC
• Dan Conant Solar Community Organizer -
SunCommon Founder and Director - Arlington Solar Raisers
Burlington, VT
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Let’s Begin!
• Brief Presentations • Anya Schoolman • Dan Conant
• More Resources
• Questions for Speakers • Please chat questions
privately to Wen Lee throughout webinar
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Anya Schoolman
Washington, DC
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We Went Solar! You Can Too!
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What The Heck?
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This is Harder than We Thought!
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Miles of Solar Potential
Let’s do the whole neighborhood!
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Finding a Path Forward
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Growth and Success
Map from 2009 • 45 homes! • Another 30 homes in
2010
Marketing • Peer-to-peer
Payback • 4-7 years
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What’s Next?
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Media and Outreach
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Just the Beginning
Ward 8 Solar Coop
Ward 7 Solar Coop
Capital Hill Solar Coop
Brookland Solar Coop
Petworth Solar Coop
Georgetown Solar Coop
Mt Pleasant Solar Coop
Cleveland Park Energy Coop
Connecticut Avenue Neighbors
DC SUN = Solar Neighborhoods United
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Political Infrastructure
Building a solar army • Close to $1600/kW installed –
created real market for residential solar
• Forced PSC to establish process for residential solar
• $2 million/yr rebate program • Net metering legislation •
Forced utility to provide net
meters and smart meters • Helped form sister co-ops in DC, MD,
and VA
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Political Infrastructure
Underway • Expand RPS solar carve out
from 0.4% to 2.5% by 2020 • Variable pricing tariff for solar
• Community solar legislation • Grant program redesign
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Community Power Network
• Grew out of a demand for assistance to duplicate the DC
success story
• Network of grassroots organizations working to promote
locally based renewable energy projects and policies
• Serves as a resource and strategic partner to members, in
order to help them effectively scale-up their impact
• Can provide significant technical and organizational support
in states to dramatically ramp up their solar market
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Solar Citizen
• Our goal is to connect regular Americans to clean local
energy by providing tools, resources, and information to help you
start a renewable energy project in your community.
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Anya Schoolman
Email: [email protected]
Getting in Touch
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Dan Conant
Burlington, VT
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The Barriers to Solar
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Different Solar Models
Volunteer Solar Raisings • Arlington, VA Solar Raisers •
Plymouth, NH • Reduces labor costs
Bulk Buying Clubs • VPIRG (Vermont) • Solarize Portland
Group Owned Solar • University Park (Maryland) • Requires
group net metering or a “special purpose
entity”
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Successes
VPIRG Solar Communities: 300 systems installed
Solarize Portland: 400 systems installed, With weatherization
follow-up
Plymouth Energy Raisers: 100+ solar raisings in 8 years
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Keys to Success
Keep it Simple
Provide a real benefit: “Education” not enough
Limited Time Offer: 3-5 months of organizing
Talking with people in person, where they are
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Challenges
Balancing installation capacity vs. small installers
Keeping it Simple
Ensuring that as many people as possible can take part
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Getting in Touch
Dan Conant [email protected] 802-595-0338
Helping small towns and communities organize and invest in clean
energy projects that sustain the towns and our planet
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More Resources New Dream’s Community Action Kit
Guide to Sharing: guidetosharing.org
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More Resources
• Community Power Network: CommunityPowerNetwork.com
• Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative: mtpleasantsolarcoop.org
• DC Solar United Neighborhoods: DCSUN.org • Solar Citizen:
ases.org/solar-citizen • Solarize Portland Guidebook:
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/54114
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Questions?
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Thank You!
Next Steps • Webinar survey –
Watch for it! • Recording and
resources available online next week
• Join New Dream’s mailing list
• Go forth and go solar! (and tell us about it)
Contact New Dream • E-mail Wen Lee: [email protected]
