Iowa Statewide Solar Readiness Initiative

Iowa Statewide Solar Readiness Initiative

Agenda» Project Background» Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative Overview» Status of Solar in Iowa» Structure of the Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative» Q&A World Food Prize, Des Moines

Project Background

Iowa Statewide Solar Readiness Initiative Team Iowa Economic Development Authority, Energy Team Lead Agency State Energy Office Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Representing more than 550 municipal electric, gas, water and broadband utilities statewide Iowa Environmental Council A mission for a safe, healthy environment and sustainable future for Iowa

The Sun Shot Initiative Funded by Department of Energy» Make solar energy cost competitive with traditional forms of electricity» Reduce installed cost of solar by 75% Access Energy, Mount Pleasant

Rooftop Solar Challenge» Rooftop Solar Challenge is a Sun Shot Program to: Achieve measurable improvements in market conditions for rooftop photovoltaics» Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative awarded $1M grant» 2.5 year project timeline» 20% matching funds provided by partner organizations

Solar soft costs Rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system s non-hardware costs associated with processes such as customer acquisition, permitting, inspection, installation, and interconnection that make up approximately 30-40% of the total installed cost Grinnell School District Sun4Schools

Why take the Solar Challenge?» The Department of Energy found that inappropriate zoning, permitting and inspection procedures were a significant burden to installing solar energy: Sometimes adding excessive cost to customers (inappropriate permitting fees, variances, municipal hearings) Delaying installation of solar systems through lag time on inspection and interconnection Requiring the industry to navigate a wide range of inconsistent policies across jurisdictions» Without established procedures, most localities either underregulate or over-regulate

Why take the Solar Challenge?» Save money through reduced cost of installation» Build stronger economies based on clean, reliable solar energy» Create smarter administrative processes» Create jobs and help increase U.S. competitiveness in the growing renewable energy industry

Decline in Cost of Solar Modules

Decline in Installed Cost of Solar PV

Iowa Statewide Solar Readiness Initiative Overview

Project Objectives» Engage stakeholders and create collaborative effort to promote solar energy» Increase knowledge of solar PV benefits and barriers» Promote standardization of net metering and interconnection» Provide communities with solar planning and zoning resources» Identify and evaluate policy options to further reduce soft costs

Project Deliverables Planning and Implementation: Online toolbox with resources for streamlining and standardizing installations Education and Outreach: Solar awareness, Action Plans for 7 local governments, code and inspection training, partner with Optony s Solar Roadmap program for local governments Policy and Finance: Propose policy to promote solar PV and improve access to financing

Project Significance» Focus on rural and smaller urban areas» Statewide scope» 99 county jurisdictions» 947 incorporated cities» Variety of electrical providers IAEC represents 41 separate rural electric cooperatives serving over 650,000 residents IAMU reports over 200,000 meters serviced by municipal utilities Two Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) with a widely dispersed service area

Iowa s Electric Service Areas

The Status of Solar in Iowa

Current status of solar IOU standard interconnection rules adopted by IUB 2012 state solar energy system tax credit: mirrors federal tax credit Federal incentives: 30% US Energy Investment Tax Credit (Corporate) and Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Personal) Iowa Energy Center Alternate Energy Revolving Loan Program USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP) program

Current status of solar Localized efforts: Ames Municipal Utility solar rebate program, Farmers Electric Cooperative feed-in tariff, both IAMU and the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives have tools for their members including standard interconnection agreement 1-2 MW of solar PV installed in Iowa and of this 436 kw of solar projects funded by IEDA (formerly OEI

Typical solar application in Iowa Honey Creek Resort, DNR, Honey Creek State Park Solar Thermal on Lodge Solar PV on 5 cabins

The Hardware Racking system: roof or ground mounted; fixed or tracking Solar silicon panels (monocrystalline or polycrystalline) or Thin-film cells

The Hardware Meter(s) Inverter

The Soft Costs Design cost Zoning variance Bidding process Interconnection agreement Building permit Electrical permit Site permit (non-rooftop system) Electrical inspection (utility) Construction inspection Contractor selection

Lowering the Soft Costs Model zoning ordinances Permitting fee structure Online/standard permitting application Sample contract for designer and installer Inspector training Inspection checklist Standard product specification Directory of designers, vendors and installers Project case studies Standard interconnection agreements Bulk purchasing Summary of incentives and financing options

Structure of the Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative

Solar Readiness Pilot Localities» Floyd County» Linn County» City of Cedar Rapids» City of Des Moines» City of Dubuque» Minimum of 2 Municipal Utilities to be determined

October to December 2013 (Q1) January to March 2014 (Q2) April to June 2014 (Q3) July to September 2014 (Q4) October to December 2014 (Q5) January to March 2015 (Q6) Go/No Decision April to July to June 2015 September (Q7) 2015 (Q8) October to December 2015 (Q9) January to March 2016 (Q10) Develop Solar PV Market toolbox Train Pilot & Other communities on how to use the toolbox Pilot communities: Draft action plans Pilot communities: Implement action plans Training sessions with additional local governments & pilot local governments Implement Solar PV projects Education & outreach events across IA Develop Case Studies Recommend Solar Policies for Iowa Update progress on policies and share best practices Key Task 2: Lower Soft Costs through Pilot Communities Task 1: Develop a web-based Solar PV Market Toolbox Task 3: Community Outreadh and Education Task 4: Evaluate State Policies

Stakeholder Opportunities Stakeholder Project Orientation (mid-october at IEDA office) Statewide Project Kickoff (February time frame, in Des Moines) Regional Solar Outreach Events (8 events throughout the state, 2015-2015) Code and Inspection related workshops (minimum of 4 events)

Contact Information» Iowa Economic Development Authority Shelly Peterson Carrie Weber Shelly.peterson@iowa.gov carrie.weber@iowa.gov 515-725-0418 515-725-2033 Paritosh Kasotia, Energy Team Leader Kaley Bangston Paritosh.kasotia@iowa.gov kaley.bangston@iowa.gov 515-725-0434 515-725-3017 Website: http://iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/programs/energy

Contact Information» Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Anne Kimber akimber@iamu.org 515-289-1999» Iowa Environmental Council Nathaniel Baer baer@iaenvironment.org 319-321-8449

Question and Answer