Shared SolarCreating Universal Access to Clean Energy

September 2014

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Current residential solar market The “panels on your roof” approach does not work for

the majority of customers.

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Current residential solar market

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How shared solar can help» Shared solar works for the

other 80%

» Gives renters, millions of home and business owners affordable access to clean energy for the first time

» Ideally, simple for customers to participate

With shared solar, dense urban markets are no longer off limits

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669351/new-york-city-s-energy-consumption-visualized-building-by-building

NYC Electric Demand = 30%+ of NY State

Rooftops and vacant land in outlying boroughs can host shared solar facilities, helping to meet enormous customer demand for clean energy

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How does shared solar work?

How does shared solar work?

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Why do we need policyNeed policy / utility cooperation to

» Properly value benefits from shared solar

» Get those benefits reflected on participating customers bills

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Shared Solar Policies and Campaignswww.sharedrenewables.org

10 states have shared solar policy

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States where it’s working

• CO• CA – multitenant• hopefully soon DC!

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Utilities doing it… their way

“”

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LMI-specific needCustomer challenges• Likely to rent – split

incentives

• Likely to be transient

• Difficult to credit qualify for solar financing

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LMI-specific needCustomer challenges• Likely to rent – split

incentives

• Likely to be transient

• Difficult to credit qualify for solar financing

Community challenges• Pollution, health

concerns

• Lack of jobs, training for 21st century jobs

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Approaches for LMI customersCustomer benefitsColorado• 5% of energy

generated (by program portfolio) must go to low income customers

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Approaches for LMI customersCustomer benefitsColorado• 5% of energy

generated (by program portfolio) must go to low income customers

Community benefitsCalifornia• At least 1/6 of solar

projects must be built in EJ communities

• Limited to 1MW in size

Conversely, NY proposal…• No more than 20% of

projects in EJ communities

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Approaches for LMI customersCustomer perspective Community perspective» Require direct

participation by LMI customers

» Use of premium payments to support lower rate options for LMI

» Jobs» Health benefits» Community pride» Site on community

facilities – resiliency in emergencies

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Policy considerations for LMI» Paying a premium isn’t gonna

cut it, and there’s no reason for it

» Fixed rates are probably good

» Need zero/low $ down options – subscription models appealing

Check out IREC model rules

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Policy considerations for LMI» Maintain flexibility for

different biz models

» Get creative on value streams – donation of land/roof space, altruistic anchor tenant

» Looking for SCALABLE models

Check out IREC model rules

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Politics» Co-option of certain ratepayer advocates, NAACP

chapters, etc. to advance “solar hurts low income” narrative

» How to overcome?

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The bottom line• Need to connect demand

for solar with optimal locations for solar

• Numerous benefits for LMI customers & communities

#solar4all