Putting the U in Community Solar Creating a Local, Meaningful University Offset Program Myron Willson, U of U Sustainability Resource Center Director Stephanie.

Putting the U in Community SolarCreating a Local, Meaningful University

Offset Program

Myron Willson, U of U Sustainability Resource Center DirectorStephanie Dolmat-Connell, U of U Facilities Management Sustainability

ManagerKate Bowman, Utah Clean Energy Solar Program Coordinator

Summary of Presentation

• University of Utah renewable energy background;

• Explanation of “community solar;”• How we did it: Navigating the process;

• Advantages for the University of Utah.

Basic Shared Language• REC = Renewable Energy Certificate/Credito RECs are the environmental credits of

power generation that allow organizations to make claims about how their electricity

is produced. RECs are offsets.

• RFP = Request for Proposal• Solarize = community solar model

Student Initiative: Energy Fee

• In 2003, student government passed $1/semester fee to purchase wind power.

• Intent to expand renewable energy for economical and environmental reasons; preference to drive green energy in the local market.

• Currently top 10 in nation in REC purchases by a University (through EPA Green Power program).

Student Initiative: Energy Fee

Why Not Invest On Campus?

Community Solar Model• Unite to tackle the solar process as a team;

• Realize cost savings through discounted pricing;

• Incentivize participation within established timeframe;

• Help individuals overcome logistical/financial hurdles of going solar;

• Utah Clean Energy programs in Salt Lake City: o Salt Lake Community Solar (2012: 262 kW)

o Summit Community Solar (2013: 325 kW)

Barriers to Residential Solar

• Time and energy!• Solar is an unfamiliar technology, and it’s hard to know how to choose a contractor.

• Individuals aren’t able to take advantage of economies of scale and discounts that larger entities can negotiate.

U Community Solar

• TIME: Simplified and streamlined solar installation process.

• CONTRACTOR ISSUES: The University pre-screened and selected installers.

• SCALE: Economies of scale provides substantial discount.

Customer Benefits

TRUST!

Customer process

From Idea to Reality① Meet with General Counsel to understand potential

issues and upper administration to secure support;② Secure funding for program administration;③ Understand REC registration;④ Formalize partnership with non-profit—who is

responsible for what;⑤ Meet with installers (pre-RFP) to learn what they

care about;⑥ Convene steering committee and RFP committee;⑦ Issue RFP; interview and select installers. Work out

details;⑧ Develop marketing plan;⑨ Launch!

REC Registration

• Enphase monitoring system• WREGIS• Contract between homeowner and University

Legal Issues

• Purchasing and procurement guidelines and rules.

• REC contract—voluntary contribution.

• Program participants—who is eligible?

• Risk management.

Considerations for Installer RFP

• Issues are really going to depend on your specific circumstances, though here are some of the items we had to consider:o Number of installers

o Geographic areas

o Firm price vs. tiered pricing

o Standardized RFP responses

o Equipment (monitoring system, type of panel)

o STANDARDIZE PRICING

o SITE VISIT FEE

• We convened a pre-RFP meeting with local installers to gather their input about what was important and what might work best.

Marketing: How Participants

Heard About the Program

OTHER:

Multiple sources (3%)Radio or TV (3%)Facebook (2%)Community/Nonprofit newsletter (2%)Contractor (1%)Information booth (1%)Departmental/Affiliate publication (1%)Mailer (0.2%)

Timeline (Limited-Time Offer!)

April 22nd U Community Solar Launch Event Solar Survey Opens

October 24th Solar Survey Closes – 3 week extension!Last day to take the U Community Solar Survey

October 8 - 31 Final Date(s) for Site VisitAll interested/eligible participants receive a

site visit by this date

Oct 31 – Nov 21 Commitment DeadlineFinal date for participants to contract through

U Community Solar

Spring 2015 Anticipated Final Date for InstallationsAll installations completed by this date

All dates are subject to change

Progress to Date

• 1,678 Solar Surveys

• 546 Site Visits

• 222 Contracts Signed

• 1,031 Kilowatts Contracted (!)

• 100 Installations Complete

Progress: Participant locations

University Benefits• Price competitive, local alternative to RECs

• Goodwill from community

REC production Price per mWh

Open market REC $0.97/mWh (2013)

Open market “local” REC $10+/mWh

U Community Solar (if 1 MW)

$2.21/mWh

U Community Solar (if 1.3 MW)

$1.69/mWh

Resources• U Community Solar website,

www.mycommunitysolar.org/ucommunitysolar/

• Utah Clean Energy community solar information, www.mycommunitysolar.org

• The Solarize Guidebook by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54738.pdf

• Myron, [email protected]

• Stephanie, [email protected]