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 TeamLead AgencyState Energy Office

Iowa Association of Municipal UtilitiesRepresenting more than 550 municipal electric, gas, water and broadband utilities statewide

Iowa Environmental CouncilA 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 under-regulate 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

Solar silicon panels (monocrystalline or polycrystalline) or Thin-film cells

Racking system: roof or ground mounted; fixed or tracking

The Hardware

Inverter

Meter(s)

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) G

o/N

o D

ecis

ion

April to June 2015 (Q7)

July to September 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 EducationTask 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 WeberShelly.peterson@iowa.gov carrie.weber@iowa.gov515-725-0418 515-725-2033

Paritosh Kasotia, Energy Team Leader Kaley BangstonParitosh.kasotia@iowa.gov kaley.bangston@iowa.gov515-725-0434 515-725-3017

Website: http://iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/Programs/Energy

Contact Information

» Iowa Association of Municipal UtilitiesAnne Kimberakimber@iamu.org515-289-1999

» Iowa Environmental CouncilNathaniel Baerbaer@iaenvironment.org319-321-8449

Question and Answer