webinar slides solar
Webinar Series:
COMMUNITY SOLAR 101 January 23, 2013 2:00pm EST
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
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!
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
Let’s Begin! • Brief Presentations • Anya Schoolman • Dan Conant • More Resources • Questions for Speakers
• Please chat questions privately to Wen Lee throughout webinar
Anya Schoolman
Washington, DC
We Went Solar! You Can Too!
What The Heck?
This is Harder than We Thought!
Miles of Solar Potential Let’s do the whole neighborhood!
Finding a Path Forward
Growth and Success Map from 2009 • 45 homes! • Another 30 homes in 2010 Marketing • Peer-to-peer Payback • 4-7 years
What’s Next?
Media and Outreach
Just the Beginning DC SUN = Solar Neighborhoods United Connecticut Avenue Neighbors
Petworth Solar Coop Brookland Solar Coop
Cleveland Park Energy Coop
Mt Pleasant Solar Coop
Georgetown Solar Coop
Ward 7 Solar Coop
Ward 8 Solar Coop
Capital Hill Solar Coop
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
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
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
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.
Getting in Touch Anya Schoolman Email: [email protected]
Dan Conant
Burlington, VT
The Barriers to Solar
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”
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
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
Challenges Balancing installation capacity vs. small installers Keeping it Simple Ensuring that as many people as possible can take part
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
More Resources New Dream’s Community Action Kit Guide to Sharing: guidetosharing.org
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
Questions?
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]
COMMUNITY SOLAR 101 January 23, 2013 2:00pm EST
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
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!
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
Let’s Begin! • Brief Presentations • Anya Schoolman • Dan Conant • More Resources • Questions for Speakers
• Please chat questions privately to Wen Lee throughout webinar
Anya Schoolman
Washington, DC
We Went Solar! You Can Too!
What The Heck?
This is Harder than We Thought!
Miles of Solar Potential Let’s do the whole neighborhood!
Finding a Path Forward
Growth and Success Map from 2009 • 45 homes! • Another 30 homes in 2010 Marketing • Peer-to-peer Payback • 4-7 years
What’s Next?
Media and Outreach
Just the Beginning DC SUN = Solar Neighborhoods United Connecticut Avenue Neighbors
Petworth Solar Coop Brookland Solar Coop
Cleveland Park Energy Coop
Mt Pleasant Solar Coop
Georgetown Solar Coop
Ward 7 Solar Coop
Ward 8 Solar Coop
Capital Hill Solar Coop
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
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
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
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.
Getting in Touch Anya Schoolman Email: [email protected]
Dan Conant
Burlington, VT
The Barriers to Solar
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”
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
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
Challenges Balancing installation capacity vs. small installers Keeping it Simple Ensuring that as many people as possible can take part
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
More Resources New Dream’s Community Action Kit Guide to Sharing: guidetosharing.org
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
Questions?
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]
