February 14, 2014 Sustainable Buildings Lecture Series. Go Solar Florida

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1 February 14, 2014 Sustainable Buildings Lecture Series Go Solar Florida

2 What will we cover today? Why Solar is a good idea Why Solar is not more prevalent in Florida The Department of Energy s Vision Go SOLAR Broward Go SOLAR Florida Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest 2

3 Why is Solar Energy a Good Idea? Plentiful Renewable Clean Creates new jobs Solar panels increases property values Photovoltaics (PV) release no greenhouse gases PV don t need direct sunlight, just daylight Silent Available in rural areas where grid is non existent Panels have long lifespan years Panel prices keep dropping 3

4 Some Benefits of Going SOLAR 1. Utility company rebates up to $20,000 per system 2. Federal tax credit for up to 30% of residential system cost 3. Save on energy bill 4. Cleaner source of energy 5. Greenhouse gas reductions

5 Installation costs are high Electricity in S. Florida is cheap If it s such a good Idea, then why isn t Florida littered with solar panels? about 11 cents per kilowatt hour Compare to Hawaii, can be up to 46 cents per kilowatt hour Payback period for the investment is much longer in FL than HI Substantial market incentives don t exist Florida does not have a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandating that utilities incorporate solar energy into its power portfolio Florida Public Service Commission prohibits investor owned utilities, solar vendors and third party financing groups from using some model financing programs successful in other parts of the country Florida offers no tax credit programs Florida offers no solar rebates 5

6 Conclusion: Florida is missing out on a huge opportunity to leverage its natural resources to spur economic development, protect itself from increasingly volatile energy prices, and be more resilient in emergencies. 6

7 SunShot is the Apollo Mission of Our Time

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9 Goal of SunShot Bring down the full cost of solar including the costs of the solar cells and installation by focusing on four main pillars: Technologies for solar cells and arrays that convert sunlight to energy Electronics that optimize the performance of the installation Improvements in the efficiency of solar manufacturing processes Installation, design and permitting for solar energy systems 9

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11 Panel Prices Plummeted Source: Mints, P. (2011). Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity, & Competitive Analysis 20010/2011. Report # NPS Supply6. Palo Alto, CA: Navigant Consulting Photovoltaic Service Program.

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13 Soft Costs Financing Permitting Customer Acquisition Installation Maintenance Over 64% of the cost of solar installations are due to soft costs. Our group can work on reducing permitting soft costs.

14 Go SOLAR Broward Accomplishments Partners signed ILA Removed verbiage from zoning/planning that restricted solar Created electronic permit process (gosolar.broward.org) Agreed to one fee ($500 + surcharges) Preapproved plans Created Financing Best Practices Trained participants in use of electronic permit system Held Go SOLAR Fest January 2013 Our first grant from DOE in 2012 Partners Coconut Creek Dania Beach Town of Davie** Deerfield Beach Fort Lauderdale Hallandale Beach * Hillsboro Beach Lauderdale by the Sea* Miramar North Lauderdale Oakland Park Pompano Beach* Sunrise Tamarac Unincorporated BC * Did not sign ILA yet * Did not change zoning ordinances

15 Main Benefit Go SOLAR Broward Go to City to Pay Fee and Obtain Permit Solar Contractor Engineer Designs System Streamlined Permitting! Solar Contractor Review Comments/ Responses Process Current process several weeks Apply in Person at City for Permit Apply & Obtain Permit Online Zoning Department Review Building Department Review Proposed Process A Few Minutes

16 Go SOLAR Broward Online Permit System Save Time: Apply online 24/7 Save Money: Select pre approved engineered designs eliminate complicated plan review process One Fee: Pay standard permit fee online

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22 Go SOLAR Florida Rooftop Solar Challenge U.S. Department of Energy Grant 2. Broward County is administering the grant with a. 5 partner counties b. The City of Venice c. Eight additional BC cities d. Collaborating to make solar rooftop systems easier, faster and cheaper for residents and businesses e. Through streamline permitting, engineering and regulation

23 Go SOLAR Florida Partners Alachua, Broward, Miami Dade, Monroe, Orange, St. Lucie Counties and the City of Venice Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Goal Increase grid tied solar systems in Florida through improved awareness, electronic permitting processes, and financial options for installation Priorities Standard, successful model for inexpensive and rapid solar permitting Increase the Florida grid tied solar market State program for solar Financial Options

24 Go Solar Florida With FSEC, develop long term business solution Revise Go Solar Broward Planning and Zoning Best Management Practices Enhance financing options for rooftop solar systems Market, Market, Market 24

25 Jeffery Halsey, Project Director Kay Sommers, Project Manager Go Solar Broward Lead Michael Huneke Planning and Zoning Lead - Cathy Randazzo crandazzo@broward.org Financial Options Lead Dr. Jennifer Jurado jjurado@broward.org Administration/Budget Lead Charvella Campbell ccampbell@broward.org Outreach/Marketing Go SOLAR Fests Lead Matt Anderson mranderson@broward.org Information Technology Lead Andrea Bousquet abousquet@broward.org , x 9804 Go SOLAR Florida Permitting Solutions Net Metering & Interconnection Lead Kay Sommers ksommers@broward.org Advisory Body Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals Miami-Dade County Board of Rules and Appeals Lenny Vialpando, BC Building Permitting Director Armando Linares, BC EPGMD Deputy Director Henry Sniezek, BC Planning Director Florida Solar Users Network (FL SUN) 25

26 Go SOLAR Collaboration Go SOLAR Broward Coconut Creek Dania Beach Davie Deerfield Beach Fort Lauderdale Hallandale Beach Hillsboro Beach Lauderdale by the Sea Miramar North Lauderdale Oakland Park Pompano Beach Sunrise Tamarac Go SOLAR Florida City of Venice Alachua Broward Miami Dade Monroe Orange St. Lucie Broward Cities Cooper City Hollywood Lauderdale Lakes Lauderhill Lighthouse Point Margate Pembroke Pines Plantation Wilton Manors FAU FSEC Miami Dade Cities Coral Gables Cutler Bay Florida City Miami Shores Palmetto Bay Pinecrest South Miami More? 26

27 Partnerships Key to Success 27

28 June 6 & 7, 2014 Broward County Convention Center Attendance is FREE Register, sponsor or exhibit Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest 28

29 What will we cover today? Why Solar is a good idea Why Solar is not more prevalent in Florida The Department of Energy s Vision Go SOLAR Broward Go SOLAR Florida Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest 29

30 For more information:

31 Any Questions?

32 Terms Net Metering Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. For example, if a residential customer has a PV system on the home's rooftop, it may generate more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours. If the home is net metered, the electricity meter will run backwards to provide a credit against what electricity is consumed at night or other periods where the home's electricity use exceeds the system's output. Customers are only billed for their "net" energy use. On average, only 20 40% of a solar energy system s output ever goes into the grid. Exported solar electricity serves nearby customers loads. Interconnection (and related standards) refers to the technical and practical aspects of connecting the solar generator to the grid Soft costs non hardware costs include permitting, installation and interconnection Source: Solar Energy Industries Association and DOE

33 Terms (continued) Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) aka Renewable Energy Standard (RES) requires utility companies to source a certain amount of the energy they generate or sell from renewable sources such as wind and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) a financial agreement where a developer arranges for the design, permitting, financing and installation of a solar energy system on a customer s property at little to no cost. Source: Solar Energy Industries Association and DOE

34 Resources DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest Go SOLAR Online Permitting Kay Sommers