Joy Hughes - California Solar Gardens

Joy Hughes – Solar Gardens Institute

Sprouting up Everywhere

Maps showing community solar interest

Saguache Solar Garden – 200 kW

A private / public partnership with the Town of Saguache on a former dump site. Subscribers include town buildings, library district, low income.

Charles Tidd, Solar Gardener

Jeffco Open Garden – 500 kW

A privately owned former mine site, divided into parcels of approx. 1 acre. SPH is issuing a Solicitation of Interest for at least four solar gardens on the site.

Rachel Emmer, Solar Gardener

Cost Control

� Minimize fixed cost per solar garden- KISS principle, no bells and whistles

� Ownership models – competitive process

� Minimal software needed for XCEL projects

� Revenue sharing and contingency pay

The Big Test

� CU Denver business students to conduct a test of solar gardens business models

� Considering models from all SGI members

� Analyze costs and benefits to subscribers, hosts, and investors / sponsors

Model for Smaller Arrays: University Park, Maryland LLC

�  Legal documents available

FREE

�  Limited to 35 members – no advertising

� Good for churches, HOAs, neighborhood associations

� Can be used to power common buildings or as a solar garden

Low and Mid Income Subscribers A Colorado Cooperative

�  Small investors provide “sponsorship” for subscribers in any solar garden (including Clean Energy Collective and others)

�  Might be used as subscriber organization - third party finance needed ( C3PO ) for tax purposes

�  Broad securities exemption under Colorado law

Call for Projects!

� Solar gardens or community supported arrays of any size

� Consulting from the SPH “Dream Team”

�  Least cost / best fit ownership models – low overhead

� Use your own equipment / finance / installers – or use ours

SGI’s Mission

�  To educate the public about community solar energy.

�  To promote community solar energy legislation at the federal level and in each state

�  To assist local organizations in organizing, developing, and managing community-owned solar energy projects everywhere.

�  To make affordable solar energy available for all humanity

Solar Gardener Program

�  A solar gardener is a grassroots community organizer and project manager

�  Receive training, tools, mutual aid

�  Participate in Governance

�  “Sweat Equity” – paid in panels

Original Gardener Gary Nystedt – Ellensburg Community Renewable Park

Legislation in Play

� SB 843 – California “solar gardens”

�  Template law for Maryland and more

� SUN Act – Tax credit for subscribers

� Restoration of PACE

A Constitutional Convention for SGI *

* (Like this, but more diverse)

•  A mix of industry, hosts, subscribers

•  Elect board and officers for SGI

•  Adopt mission, founding principles, initial goals

•  Establish consent based “dynamic governance”

Member Benefits

� SGI press releases / communications

� Present at colloquia / other events

�  Logo on SGI website

� Solar gardener program

� Subscriber connection

� Participate in governance

� Research and legislative analysis

SGI Membership

� Corporate - 500 kW+ $1000

�  Integrator - 100-500 kW $500

� Community – under 100 kW $250

� Nonprofit $100

�  Individual $25