Municipal Solar: Taking the lead on a growing renewable movement. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Municipal Solar: Taking the lead on a growing renewable movement.

Presented by Greg Winks & Will Brown Solbridge Energy Advisors

CHANGING THE WAY YOU GO SOLAR!

• Independent consulting and brokerage for solar & renewables
• We do NOT manufacture, install, or sell solar equipment
• We DO work with & for YOU (interested end users & decision makers) to:
• Identify goals & objectives (for your home, business, municipality, etc.)
• Explain technical and financial capabilities, including savings & payback
• Represent YOU to a broad marketplace of design & installation companies
• Independent consulting and brokerage for solar & renewables
• We do NOT manufacture, install, or sell solar equipment
• We DO work with end users (home & business owners, municipalities, etc.) TO:
• Identify client goals and objectives
• Determine technical and financial capabilities
• Represent client to broad marketplace of design & installation companies

Does Solar Work in Pennsylvania?

YES!

Solar is a perfectly viable strategy that works anywhere in the United States.

The Growth of Solar

• Annual national growth rate of

59% over the past decade

• Over 1.9 million solar installations
• Enough to power 12M homes
• A new solar project was installed

every 100 seconds

• Over 250,000 Americans

employed in the solar industry

SEIA: Solar Energy Industries Association

• 9.6% solar job growth in 2017
• vs. 1% overall job growth
• 420 MW of solar installed
• Enough to power 51K homes
• Grid parity has been reached
• 4,200 Pennsylvanians employed in

the industry Nationwide Statewide

There has never been a better time to invest in solar.

Many Benefits of Going Solar:

Safety, Health & Social

• Energy Security/Independence
• Cleaner Air, Water & Environment
• Educational Opportunities

Fiscal & Economic

• Cost Savings
• Price Protection
• Economic Development

It is not a question of if, but rather when individuals and communities will go solar and realize these benefits.

Solar offsets more than 73M metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to taking 15.6M vehicles off the road or planting 1.2M trees.

Borough of Forest Hills Municipal Building

Millvale Community Library

Monaca Water Reservoir

Municipal Solar Financing

• Challenge: Municipalities unable to take advantage of tax credits
• Solution: Third party financing & ownership via “tax equity investor”
• Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contracts can include:
• No upfront cost
• Savings starting in year 1
• Long-term price guarantees
• Options for long-term ownership

Municipal Solar Initiative (MSI)

The MSI is a collaborative effort to achieve widespread municipal energy independence, financial security and community health through solar energy development.

Ideal End-User:

Municipalities COGs

• Consistent energy demand
• Interest in community health
• Interest in fiscal sustainability
• Capacity for leadership

(Cannot reap tax benefits)

• Collaboration
• Aggregation
• Serve as managing body
• Create economies of scale

(Attract outside investment) Ideal Vehicle:

The Municipal Solar Synergy!

Make Your Muni Solar-Friendly!

Areas to Consider

• Permitting
• Planning & Zoning
• Inspection
• Construction Codes
• Solar Rights
• Utility & Community

Engagement

Initiatives/Resources

• SunShot (DOE)
• SolSmart (DOE)
• Solar Zoning Best Practices (NREL)
• Planning for Solar Energy (APA)
• Zoning & Permitting Guidelines

(PennFuture, SUNWPA)

• Utility Scale Development

Recommendations (SEIA)

Please Participate in The Municipal Solar Initiative Survey!

Survey Hosted by: Quaker Valley Council of Governments

www.qvcog.org/municipal-solar-initiative info@SolbridgeEA.com (412) 901-6766

Today’s Presenters: Greg Winks & Will Brown Solbridge Energy Advisors