Municipal LaunchPace Law School

September 4, 2014

Nina Orville, Program Manager

More energy from the sun falls on the earth in one hour than is used by everyone in the world in one year.

NY’s Investment in Solar

NYS is making $1 billion investment in solar energy over 10 years through the NY-Sun program to capitalize on clean energy, local jobs, energy security and cost savings.

NYS ranks #9 in nation in total solar capacity - #8 in capacity installed in 2013.

Solarize Westchester

• Supported by NYSERDA through NY-Sun.• Designed to catalyze and strengthen the

market for solar in Westchester to capture more clean, renewable energy as well as the energy cost savings, and local jobs it brings.

• Help Westchester – and all its communities - fully benefit from NYS’s investment and the opportunities that solar offers.

Solar Market in Westchester

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

50

100

150

200

250

300

2943 50

58

77

162

271

Number of PV Installations

Count

Solar Market – Trends and Factors

Growth fueled by factors including:• Price declines – almost 30% in Westchester

from 2010 – 2013.• New financing options:

– Leasing– Low-cost loans– On-bill financing and PACE financing

Solar Market – Trends and Factors

• Price declines to date, from falling hardware costs – now attention is on “soft” costs.

• Solarize Westchester targets these costs while supporting municipalities.

Two Complementary Components

Solarize Campaigns Aggregate demand for solar during time limited campaigns in particular communities.

Solar-Friendly Permitting and Zoning Support municipalities in the adoption of streamlined and vetted processes.

Solarize Westchester Team

• Energy Improvement Corporation – Prime Contractor

• Abundant Efficiency – Program Manager• SmartPower – Solarize Campaigns• Sustainable Westchester – Solarize Campaigns• Croton Energy Group – Permitting and Zoning• Pace Land Use Law Center – Permitting and

Zoning

“This innovative program is the first of many we expect to form through the Community Solar NY program as part of Governor Cuomo’s NY-Sun Initiative. NYSERDA’s partnership with Solarize Westchester and its dedicated members will help grow the use of solar power in downstate New York and serve as a model for other counties and communities to spur growth of this clean, renewable resource.”

John Rhodes, President and CEO of NYSERDA

Solarize Westchester Campaigns

INTRODUCTION TO SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS

Antonia “Toni” Bouchard, SmartPower

What is Solarize?

• Community Outreach• Moving Social Norms• Engaging Volunteers• Engaging Community

Leaders

Volunteers tabling a football game in Cheshire

Barriers to Going Solar1) Cost

Tiered pricing

2) ReliabilityMunicipal/State-sponsored

3) ComplexityTransparent

4) InertiaDeadline

Volunteers at a parade in West Hartford

Solarize CT: Results So Far

As of April 15, 2014:

•8 MW installed through Solarize campaigns in four Phases (Phase 4 still ongoing)•34 campaigns in 43 towns•1,160 total contracts signed •20-25% reduction in cost of solar

Solarize CT: Results So Far

Engaging Community Leaders

“It’s gratifying and exciting to participate in the pilot effort and see how well we can advance solar technology in Durham and the State of Connecticut.”-Laura Francis, First Selectman of the Town of Durham

Survey of Solar Installers

• 60% of installers involved in Solarize CT are CT-based

• “Being involved in Solarize helped us become a better solar installer company”– Local CT Installer

Encon Solar doing a live installation and barbeque event in Manchester

SOLARIZE WESTCHESTER CAMPAIGNS – THE BASICS

Nina Orville, Program Manager, Abundant Efficiency

Solarize Westchester Campaign Basics

• Two rounds of Solarize Campaigns, each nine months from start to finish.

• Four municipalities (or groups of municipalities) in each round.

• Total of eight campaigns.• Include both residential and commercial

installations.

Solarize Westchester Campaign Goals

• Promote understanding of solar opportunity in participating municipalities.

• Average of 50 new installations (or 300 kW) installed in each campaign. 400 installations (or 2.4 MW) in total.

• Installation costs at least 15% below non-Solarize (tiered pricing will be established).

• Spur adoption of municipal solar-friendly practices.• Strengthen the market for solar throughout Westchester

County.

Solarize Partners

SOLARIZE WESTCHESTER

LOCAL COMMUNITY- Led by Core Team of Volunteers- Engage Local Groups/Partners- Host Events/Solar Open Houses- Conduct Local Outreach

SOLARIZE WESTCHESTERTEAM

- Overall Program Coordination- Program Structure/Templates- Outreach/Organizing Support

CUSTOMER- Get Free Site Assessment- Tell Friends and Neighbors- GO SOLAR!

PARTNER INSTALLER- Turnkey Installation- Competetive Tiered Pricing- Collaboration on Outreach- Technical Expertise

Campaigns: A 5-Step Process

1. Apply to be a Solarize Community2. Select an Installer to work in the community3. Launch Solarize Campaign4. Community volunteers continue to engage in

outreach during 16-20-week outreach campaign

5. Celebrate and share results

SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS: STEP 1 APPLY AS SOLARIZE CAMPAIGN COMMUNITY

Antonia “Toni” Bouchard, SmartPower

1. Apply to be a Solarize Community

• Community RFI shared today! Copies here or available at www.SolarizeWestchester.com

• 4 communities to be selected for first round.

1. Apply to be a Solarize Community

Strong applications will include:• Committed volunteers• Endorsement from local leaders• Creative ideas for outreach• Interest from local residents in renewable energy• Intent to capitalize on success of Solarize campaign

with other sustainability efforts.

1. Apply to be a Solarize Community

Strong applications will include (continued):• Intent to use Solarize to establish or strengthen a

municipal sustainability committee.• Municipal adoption of solar-friendly permitting and

zoning practices.• Participation in regional sustainability initiatives (e.g.

Sustainable Westchester, the Energy Improvement Corporation / Energize).

1. Solarize Community Selection

Selection Committee for Solarize communities includes:• SmartPower – Lead• Sustainable Westchester• Abundant Efficiency

No one whose community is applying will participate in community selection.Diversity in geography /community characteristics.

SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS:STEP 2: SELECT A SOLAR INSTALLER

Vincent SalvatoreCounsel, Sustainable Westchester

2. Select a Solar Installer

• Solar installers selected by the community with strong support / assistance from Solarize Westchester team.

• Installers will respond to an RFP issued by Sustainable Westchester, committing to fixed prices (with possible price adjustments detailed).

• Communities applying to be Solarize Communities will include a Community Profile which indicates special requests that community may have (e.g., ability to offer battery storage, etc.).

2. Select a Solar Installer

• An installer (or consortium of installers applying together) will be selected by each municipality for residential installations (i.e., each municipality will select a different installer).

• More than one municipality may select a particular installer for commercial installations.

2. Solar Installer Selection - Process

• Independent technical consultant – Hired by SmartPower, will review proposals, be available to the community selection committees, and present during the short-list workshop and installer interviews.

• Reference checks – customers and NYSERDA installer status.

• Short-List Workshop – This three-hour workshop will orient committees and provide support as the committees choose installers to interview.

2. Solar Installer Selection - Process

• Interview Day – Each selection committee may interview up to three installers; solar installers will be interviewed jointly if on more than one community’s short-list.

• Selection – Communities indicate which installers they would be happy to work with and Solarize Team matches installers with the communities that have selected them.

• Notification - Sustainable Westchester, on behalf of participating municipalities, notifies selected installers.

2. Solar Installer Selection - Criteria

• Relevant experience• Overall quality and value• Solarize implementation capacity• Reputation• Pricing – clear and good value• Financing options• Creative outreach commitment• Response to Community Profiles• Continued…

2. Solar Installer Selection - Criteria

Commitment to growing the Westchester market• History of installations in Westchester County• Commitment to solar market in Westchester County• Members of installer team based in Westchester?• Location of business headquarters• Distance between Westchester County and business

office• Overall qualifications and reputation

SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS:STEPS 3 - 5

Nina Orville, Program Manager, Abundant Efficiency

3. Launch 16 – 20 Week Outreach Campaign

• Pre-launch meeting - Solarize Westchester Team with core volunteers and selected installer to plan launch and first month.

• Solarize launch event – Elected officials, volunteers, etc.• 16-20 weeks of outreach - to residents and businesses.• Publicize deadline!• Close out meeting - to review campaign and discuss

next steps

3. Launch 16 – 20 Week Outreach Campaign

• Any resident or business owner can contact selected installer to receive site visit and quote based on RFP response.

• Customers must sign a contract before campaign deadline to receive special pricing.

• Residents and business owners can seek bids and sign contracts with any other solar installers at any point in the program (these won’t count towards the tiered pricing).

4. Campaign Outreach

• Community team must stay engaged through full campaign.

• Solarize Westchester team will support community through: – bi-weekly phone calls– event support – Drafting press releases– Community webpage on SolarizeWestchester.

www.SolarizeWestchester.com

5. Celebrating and Sharing Results

• Mark the successful conclusion of each Solarize campaign!• Support community in building on success of Solarize –

– Connect community members with energy efficiency programs (e.g. Energize)

– Consider engaging community in other opportunities to install solar (e.g. schools through K-Solar, Sustainable Westchester’s Municipal Solar Buyers Group).

– Solarize Westchester Team helps the community think through how to leverage the momentum of Solarize to accomplish other sustainability and community objectives.

Q&A: SOLARIZE CAMPAIGNS

Solar-Friendly Permitting and Zoning