AgendaWelcome and IntroductionOverview of Solarize Syracuse ProgramSolar PV BasicsSolar PV Incentives and EconomicsGetting Started

2Go Solar Today!

What is Solarize Syracuse?

• A community-based program to assist residential and commercial customers in Syracuse, Dewitt, Manlius, and Onondaga with financial and logistical barriers to going solar.

• Group-purchasing volume discounts.• Support system.• A growing movement to engage communities in

order to stimulate local solar market and: Reduce pollution Save money Support green jobs and economy

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Solarize Programs

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Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE)

Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board

Frack Action Greening USA New York Interfaith Power and

Light Peace Action CNY Syracuse Peace Council

Solarize Syracuse Is:

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Barriers

High upfront cost

Complexity

Customer inertia

Solutions

Group purchase, volume discount

Installer selection, community outreach

Limited-time offer

Benefits of Solarize Program

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Request for Proposals issued June 5, 2014.

Sent to 30 NYSERDA-approved installers in Upstate NY.

Received 5 qualified proposals.

In-person interviews with 2 finalists. Contractor selected on July 16, 2014.

Installer Selection Process

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NYSERDA-approved, NABCEP-certified Overall experience and qualifications (insurance,

bonding, references, etc.) Quality of equipment Customer service Agree to the Solarize “program approach”

– Volume discount– Community outreach and education

Diverse financing options offered Benefit to the local economy

Installer Selection Criteria

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CNY Solar• Established in 2009, based in

Canastota.• Has completed 200+ projects

including multiple installations in Syracuse area.

• A+ rating with BBB; was preferred installer of Solarize Madison campaign in 2013.

• Domestic (SolarWorld) and foreign (Trina) panels available. Also BenQ panel with built-in micro-inverter.

• Solar purchase and lease option available.

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Solarize Process

Select Installer

Marketing & Workshops Enrollment Site

Assessment

Decision &

Installation

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Solarize ProcessIf you sign up for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION site assessment, CNY Solar will follow up shortly to discuss the feasibility of your property.

If your property is a good candidate, CNY Solar will:• Check your property in person• Give you a detailed quote

If you sign a contract, CNY Solar will: • Submit the NYSERDA paperwork• Get the local building and electrical permits and submit the interconnection

paperwork to National Grid while NYSERDA approves the project (~6-8 weeks)• Complete the installation once NYSERDA approves (~1-2 days for a typical

residential project)

If you are financing or leasing your system, you must complete:• Credit check• Lease document (your first payment is not due until installation is complete)

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Set below-market base price for all participants Volume purchasing discount Leasing and loan options available Extended 25-year warranty on all

components (panels and inverters) for purchase and lease options Guidance on other available incentives

Financial Hurdles

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Pricing Tiers

PV Panel Efficiency Warranty Inverter < 50 kW 50‐100 kW

101+ kW

Trina 255 15.9%10‐yr product, 

25‐yr performance

Solar Edge $3.55per watt

$3.40per watt

$3.25 per watt

SolarWorld280 16.7%

10‐yr product, 25‐yr 

performanceSolar Edge $3.60 $3.45 $3.30

Ben‐Q(AC module)

18.1%10‐yr product, 

25‐yr performance

Built‐in micro‐inverter

$3.70 $3.55 $3.40

Roof pitch 45‐degree or greater  $0.15/watt

Line tap in electrical panel $300 flat fee

Line tap external to building $700 flat fee

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Base Price: 16% discount

Lowest Tier: 24% discount

How do Solar Panels Work?

• Need DIRECT sunlight!• Sunlight dislodges

electrons in a layer of silicon

• Electrons flow to layer that needs electrons

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Solar PV Basics

Panel / Module

Cell

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Solar PV Basics

PV Array

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Solar PV Basics

Residential1-25 kW

“Small”Commercial1 – 200 kW

“Large”Commercial200 kW+

Utility2 MW+

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NYSERDA Open Enrollment Program

NYSERDA Competitive Grant

e-e-

Solar PV Basics

Capacity / Powerkilowatt (kW)

ProductionKilowatt-hour (kWh)

e-

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Image Source: Home Power Magazine

Solar PV Basics

Utility Grade MeterUtility Grade Meter

InverterInverter Disconnect SwitchDisconnect Switch

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How Does Net Metering Work?

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Where Can I Put my Solar Panels?

Roof-Mount Ground-Mount

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What Makes a Good Site for Solar?

• At least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day – no obstructions by trees, chimney or buildings.

• PV panels angled 30˚- 45˚ are ideal.

• 90-100 square feet of PV modules will produce about 1,000 watts of power, so a 5kW array will require about 500 square feet of roof area.

• In Central NY, each kW of PV installed will produce about 1.1 kWh per year.

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Average loss in energy produced

How Does Shading Affect a Solar Array?

Source: Renewable Energy World

10% shading of an array can lead to a 50% decline in efficiency

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Design: Pitched Roof

Image Source: Home Power Magazine Go Solar Today! 24

Design: Pitched Roof

L Foot

Standoff

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Design: Pitched Roof

Typically 48-96 inches depending on rafter spacing, weight, and wind load

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Design: Flat Roof

Image Source: Solar Pro Go Solar Today! 27

Design: Flat Roof

Image Source: Solar Pro

If roof is ballasted you can use ballast blocks instead

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Design: Ground Mount

Image Source: tradekey.com

Can be anchored using:• Concrete footings• Driven steel piles• Earth screws• Ballast

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Design: Grounding

Image Sources: ART TEC, crodog.org

All metal components must be grounded

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How Much Solar PV Do I Need?

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Page 2

Billing Period

Monthly usage (kWh)

13-month usage history

https://www1.nationalgridus.com/StateLandingNY

SBC/RPS charge

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How Much Solar PV Can I Install?

Month/Year Usage (kWh)August 2013 1044

September 2013 748

October 2013 745

November 2013 613

December 2013 577

January 2014 651

February 2014 535

March 2014 542

April 2014 654

May 2014 716

June 2014 704

July 2014 1,010

YEARLY TOTAL 8,539

MONTHLY AVERAGE 712

Summer peak

Max. System Size is LESSER OF:• 110% of annual usage• How many panels will fit your space

How Do I Know How Much Solar PV Can Fit?

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Preliminary Assessment: Aerial Photos

How Do I Know If My Site Is Too Shady?

• Initial site feasibility can be determined online through aerial images such as Google Earth.

• Aerial images can miss important factors, so a shading analysis will be performed for each feasible project site.

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What About All That Snow?

• Yes, snow shuts down your solar array (temporarily) when it blocks the light.

BUT. . .There is very little sun in the winter to miss out on.

• December, January and Feburary is only about 5% of yearly sun• So if snow covers your panels for a few weeks, you are losing very little energy production.

SO…Stay off your roof in the winter!

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Solar PV Basics

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Solar PV Basics

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Is There Enough Sun for Solar In Central New York?

Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory Go Solar Today! 38

Solar Resource in NYS

San Diego, CA: 2,100 kWh/m2/yearSyracuse, NY: 1,550Seattle, WA: 1,365Sunniest place in Germany: 1,250 World’s

solar power leaderCentral New York gets

74% of the amount of sun that San Diego gets

Source: NREL study of 30-year average Go Solar Today! 39

U.S. Solar Market is Growing

Source: Greentech Media, Inc. and Solar Energy Industries Association (2014) 40Go Solar Today!

How is New York Doing?

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How is Central New York Doing?

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43%

18%

17%

13%

9%

NUMBER OF INSTALLED SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROJECTS

Onondaga Oswego Madison Cayuga Cortland

N = 217

N = 87

N = 87

N = 64

N = 46

Growth of Solar PV in Central NY

43Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (2013)

Falling Prices Driving Growth

Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (2013) Go Solar Today! 44

Installed Costs in Central NY

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Incentives Falling Just as Fast

Source: Greentech Media, Inc. and Solar Energy Industries Association (2014)

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More Good Reasons to Go Solar Now

1.Protect the environment.2.Eliminate or drastically reduce your electric bills.3.Earn a great return on your investment.4.Protect against rising energy costs.5.Create jobs and help the local economy.6. Increase your property value.7.Boost U.S. energy independence.8.Build your company brand, demonstrate your

personal commitment to sustainability. 9. Increase employee morale.10.Stay competitive.

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Environmental Benefits

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Environmental Benefits

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Environmental Benefits

• Particulate pollution from existing coal power plants caused 13,200 premature deaths in 2010, and 9,700 additional hospitalizations and 20,000 heart attacks.

• Pennsylvania leads the nation with 1,359 premature deaths from coal pollution, Ohio is second with 1,221 and New York is third with 945.

• Total monetized value of these adverse health impacts amounts to more than $100 billion per year.

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Source: Clean Air Task Force, The Toll From Coal (2010)

NY Electricity Costs Are Very High

Source: US Chamber of Commerce Go Solar Today! 51

Hedge Against Inflation

Go Solar Today! 52Source: EIA, “Electric Power Monthly”

Solar homes sold

20% fasterand for

17% morethan the equivalent non-solar homesin surveyed California subdivisions

Smart Investment for Homes

Source: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy07osti/38304-01.pdf

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Pryor Tec Automotive Service in Clinton, NY 14.95 kW PV system installed by CNY Solar, Inc. on May 13, 2011 Project cost: $63,800 NYSERDA incentive: $26,162.50 ($1.75/watt) Electricity produced in 2013: 17,000 kWh Estimated payback: 4 years

Source: CNY Solar, Inc.

Smart Investment for Business

Solar Drives Local Economic Development

Source: SEIA/GTM Research – 2009/2010/2011/2012 Year in Review Report http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight 55Go Solar Today!

Job Creation

Source: SEIA Estimates (2006-2009),The Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census 2013.

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SEIA Estimates

The Solar Foundation

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A household is

0.8% more likely to adopt solar

for

each additional installation in their zip code

Market Transformation

Source: NYU Stern and Yale School of Forestry, Peer Effects in the Diffusion of Solar Panels

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What is NYSERDA?

• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

• Public Benefit Corporation • Established by the New York State 

Legislature in 1975  • NYSERDA is tasked to address the 

State’s energy and environmental challenges

MissionAdvance innovative energy solutions in ways that improve New York’s economy and environment.

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What are NYSERDA’s Incentives?

• Incentive is $0.90/watt for the first 50kW and $0.55/watt for next 51-200kW.

• No deadline (first-come, first-served) but incentives periodically reduced depending on program volume.

• Must be new system installed by Eligible Installer such as CNY Solar

• Capped at 25kW for residential systems and 200kW for commercial.

• PV system capacity cannot exceed 110% of historical electricity usage.

• Incentives are reduced in proportion to output losses when losses from factors such as shading and orientation exceed 20%.

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How Are NYSERDA’s Incentives Paid?

•Paid to approved Eligible Installers, NOT to customer.

•Entire incentive MUSTbe passed on to the customer by the Eligible Installer.

• In two installments:• 75% paid AFTER the

equipment is delivered to the installation site; and

• 25% paid when PV system is grid-connected and approved by your utility.

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NYSERDA’s PV Program

MORE THAN JUST A GRANT!

• NYSERDA reviews system design, incentive applications, customer purchase agreement.

• Installers will inspect system if it’s not operating at specified performance goals.

• Full 5-year parts and labor warranty – Peace of Mind!

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Summary of Incentives

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Available Incentives30% Federal Tax Credit (residential and commercial customers; no dollar limit; set to expire December 31, 2016 so sign up now!)

25% NYS Tax Credit (up to $5,000; residential customers up to 25 kW max. system size; 50kW for condo or coop housing associations)

NYSERDA grant (currently $0.90/watt but may be revised downward by NYSERDA soon so sign up now!)

NYS Sales Tax ExemptionLocal Sales Tax Exemption (available only if the municipality allows it)

NYS Property Tax Exemption (15-year exemption unless the local municipality opts out of the exemption)

Net metering (retail rate; no net excess generation for the year)

CNY Solar Estimate: Purchase Option

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System specs:• 7.425 kW

(DC) SolarWorldsystem @ $3.30 per watt

• Produces 8,603 kWh per year

• Offsets 100% of electrical usage

Are there loans available?

1. NYSERDA Energy Smart• Low rates at 3.5%• 5, 10, and 15-year terms• Credit score of at least 640• Up to $13,000 or $25,000 if project meets simple payback • Easy online application

2. Admirals Bank• Secured loans up to $25,000• 100% up-front financing (before start of project)• Tax incentive bridge loan

3. Renewable Energy Equipment Leasing• Residential and commercial financing • Residential 10, 20 and 30 year loans• Minimum credit score 600• Easy online application

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How does the lease work?

• Customer leases the solar PV equipment and makes low monthly payments for the length of the 20-year contract term.

• Low monthly payment option with minimal to no money down (project must meet simple payback test).

• Credit score of 640 or better is required.• Up to 20 kW system.• Warranty, production guarantee, and fully insured for 20

years.• CPF recoups the Federal tax credit and applies it to the

monthly lease payment.• Customer retains the NYS tax credit.

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CNY Solar Estimate: Lease Option

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System specs:• 7.14 kW (DC) Trina

system @ $3.25 per watt

• Produces 8,343 kWh per year

• Offsets 98% electrical usage

All systems must be grid-tied – battery back-up systems are possible but cost is additional.

Additional charges for electrical upgrades and steep roofs greater than 45˚.

Ground-mounts are more expensive than roof-mounts, and are not allowed for residential in Dewitt.

NYSERDA grants will probably go down soon – so sign up now! Tax credits depend upon net cost after NYSERDA incentive and your

tax situation – consult your attorney or tax professional. CNY Solar handles all of the paperwork (NYSERDA grant, local

permits, utility interconnection) and helps you get financing that works best for you!

All inverters purchased through Solarize Syracuse come with a 20-year warranty – removes additional cost in year 10-15.

Solarize Syracuse monitors the process and customer service.

Important Considerations

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Energy efficiency improvements are the most cost-effective investment you can make.

Improve your home’s comfort and safety, save money, and create good local jobs.

CNY Solar will do “clipboard audit.” Free or reduced-cost comprehensive home energy

assessments available to most New Yorkers through NYSERDA – applications available tonight!

No obligation or up-front costs, and low-interest financing and income-eligible grants up to 50% available.

Other Options – Efficiency First!

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1. Enroll for a free/reduced cost home energy assessment.

2. Schedule the assessment with a BPI-certified contractor.

3. Get your energy assessment.4. Review your energy report and

choose your improvements.5. Apply for financing and assisted

home performance grants.6. Get the work done.

NYSERDA’s Residential Efficiency Programs

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NYSERDA’s Small Commercial Energy Assessment Program

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• Provides FREE energy audits to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations with 10 employees or less and facilities with an average annual electric demand of 100 kW or less.

• Offers assistance to customers who wish to apply for NYSERDA incentives to implement recommended improvements.

• Low-interest available – ask us for information on Green Jobs –Green NY financing.

• Program is available statewide (customers do NOT have to pay SBC).

Get educated – attend a workshop and/or visit the website.1. Sign up for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION site assessment –

complete the enrollment form now, visit the website, or call us!

2. Give us your utility bill so we can estimate your system size.3. Evaluate proposal and sign contract, or get a comprehensive

home efficiency assessment from NYSERDA-approved Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® contractor.

4. Spread the word – talk to your friends and neighbors, “like” us on Facebook, get a lawn sign, etc.

5. Volunteer or donate to the campaign – all contributions go directly to advertising costs.

What’s Next?

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Thank You!

Questions?www.solarizesyracuse.org

(315) 480-151572Go Solar Today!