CALSEIA APPLAUDS NEW SOLAR PERMITTING GUIDEBOOK IN ADVANCE OF JAN 1ST

Center for Sustainable Energy, in partnership with the Office of Planning and Research, Released New Permitting Guidebook On Eve of AB 2188 Going into Effect

On the eve of the nation’s first streamlined solar permitting law, AB 2188 (Muratsuchi), going into effect, a new resource guide aimed at helping cities and counties expedite and streamline the permitting process for all home solar energy systems was released today. 

The California Solar Permitting Guidebook addresses the requirements of the Solar Permitting Efficiency Act (formerly Assembly Bill 2188) signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in September that requires the state’s more than 540 cities and counties to adopt streamlined solar permitting processes by Sept. 30, 2015. With the help of this guidebook, AB 2188 aims is to cut installation costs for homeowners, increase local jobs and economic development for solar businesses, and reduce the workload of permitting agencies. California is the first state to mandate standardized solar permitting processes.

“It takes a solar contractor one day to install a residential solar system yet in many cities and counties it takes months just to get a simple permit,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). “Thanks to AB 2188, and this accompanying guidebook, that bureaucratic burden should lighten, allowing solar businesses to deploy more solar and employ more people.”

In much the same way as cell phones a decade ago, the price of solar has fallen 50% since 2006 mainly due to economies of scale in manufacturing. However, the “soft costs” of solar, including the cost of getting a permit from a local building department, remains stubbornly high. 

“California leads the nation in rooftop solar installations, but achieving the state’s ambitious goals for renewable energy will require even greater solar adoption, and the permitting process has been a major barrier,” said Tamara Gishri-Perry, a CSE senior project manager. “The new legislation is an opportunity for local governments to reduce their paperwork and costs for approving what are typically fairly simple home rooftop solar installations.”

Research has shown that costs associated with attaining a building permit for a residential solar energy system can be significant. A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Labs concluded that streamlining the permitting process could reduce the price of a typical home solar system by $1,000 or more, which, in turn, promises to increase demand for solar thereby growing local businesses.

Approximately 158,000 solar roofs were installed on California homes in 2013, double the number from 2012, and 2014 is shaping up to be the solar industry’s biggest year yet. The growth in homeowners going solar, fueled by financial incentives and a desire to cut energy bills, has led to a backlog of work at local permitting offices. Advocates of AB 2188 point out that streamlining the permitting process for solar not only helps homeowners but also cuts workloads for cash-strapped building departments.

AB 2188 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown in September after receiving several bi-partisan votes in the legislature. The bill was supported by a coalition of business associations, solar companies, environmental groups, and local elected officials.    

The guidebook, published in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, contains best practices for permitting and inspection of home solar systems as well as standard application forms and checklists for solar installations. CSE’s renewable energy team compiled the guidebook with input from a task force of participants from state code agencies, local building departments and the solar industry. It is available online at www.energycenter.org/solarpermitting.

CSE staff provides free technical assistance to any local government agency that wants to adopt the California Solar Permitting Guidebook and offers an implementation guide, model ordinances and other resources. They are planning webinars and in-person trainings in 2015 for local government officials focusing on the benefits of adopting the guidebook’s recommendations. For information, email solar permitting@energycenter.org or call 415-796-0135.

More information about AB 188 can be found at www.calseia.org/ab2188.

SolarCraft Completes Solar Power Installation for Congregation Shomrei Torah

North Bay Synagogue Sees the Light 

Novato, CA (October 2014)—Novato and Sonoma based SolarCraft announced the completion of a 34 kW solar panel system at Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa, CA.  Designed and built by SolarCraft, the North Bay Synagogue’s system will reduce their carbon footprint while saving thousands in utility costs in the years to come.

While the Congregation has been wanting to do solar for a few years for all the right reasons, but it was not until a new financing option very favorable for non-profits was introduced by SolarCraft that they saw a sound financial returns. Essentially, the financing payments for the solar power are less than paying PG&E each month. As Robert Gould, Director of Commercial Projects, states, “we are honored to be helping houses of worship, like Shomrei Torah, to dramatically reduce their climate footprint, which is very congruent with their values, as well as saving them money, which allows them to provide the valuable services to the community.  We are seeing a number of houses of worship and spiritual communities going solar.”     

The solar photovoltaic system is ground mounted on a hillside below the building and consists of 104 SunPower high-efficiency solar panels spanning nearly 2,180 square feet.  The system’s solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity and is expected to generate approximately 56,100 kilowatt hours of energy annually, reducing their PG&E bills by 90% and providing clean energy to the Synagogue. Furthermore, Sonoma Clean Power’s favorable rate for solar customers, which give credits for energy exported to the grid, will generate additional savings.

The system’s solar electric panels allow the Congregation to generate enough electricity each day to power 17 average homes.  It will spare the air nearly 25 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually.  

Over 30 years, the air pollution saved will be equivalent to eliminating over 1.4 million miles of driving. 

About Congregation Shomrei Torah

Shomrei Torah was founded in 1974 by a group of eleven Sonoma County families. The name they chose for their new congregation translates as “Keepers of Torah” in honor of our Holocaust Torah, which was rescued from Strakonitz, Czechoslovakia, and is on permanent loan from a foundation in Westminster, England.  Today, the 440 member households of Shomrei Torah comprise the largest Jewish congregation in Sonoma County, and the fastest-growing congregation in the North Bay.

SolarCraft is one of the most trusted and experienced solar energy contractors in California.  Since 1984, this certified Green Business has been providing high quality solar electrical, solar pool heating and solar water heating services to homeowners and businesses, employing licensed and certified solar installers.  With more than 5,000 satisfied customers and over 2.5 million square feet of solar collectors installed, SolarCraft is committed to Quality Design, Quality Materials and Customer Service. www.solarcraft.com

TerraVerde Renewable Partners Helps Burton School District Reduce Energy Costs

Innovative Combination of Cutting Edge Energy Storage Systems and Solar Power Projected to Save the District About $6 Million

LARKSPUR, Calif., September 16, 2014 – TerraVerde Renewable Partners, an independent energy advisor that helps schools, public agencies and private companies reduce energy costs, today announced that its client, Burton School District, has entered into a contract with SolarCity for the installation of advanced energy storage systems and solar generation systems across nine of their sites.  The new systems are projected to save the school district about $6 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years. The Burton School District paired battery storage and solar project will be one of the first of such projects to be implemented under California’s advanced energy storage rules released in late spring.

“We have been chipping away at energy efficiency projects for years, picking all the low hanging fruit,” said Tracy Tucker, Director of Maintenance and Operations at Burton SD.  “We chose to engage TerraVerde for analysis and development of our generation and storage project because they were able to look into the feasibility of doing complex projects at no up-front cost to us. There was no financial risk to the district and they have refined a process specifically to meet the needs of public schools and the requirements of Proposition 39.” 

The District engaged TerraVerde’s energy advisory services to ensure that they received competitive pricing on high-quality, integrated energy systems designed to address its goals. Through its unique approach, TerraVerde helped the District: understand energy costs; explore all options for energy cost reduction; minimize financial risk; and conserve staff resources. 

“Burton School District is an excellent example of tactically pursuing practical measures combined with a forward thinking vision to address low cost generation after reducing as much demand as possible,” said Doug Stoecker, Senior Vice President, TerraVerde.  “The District was comfortable evaluating cutting edge measures, like energy storage, due to their prior investment in efficiency, and our independent analysis and validation of the technology, projected savings, and the interplay with an optimally designed solar system.”

By using Proposition 39 funding for Energy Storage, and a PPA to acquire clean, cheaper solar power, the District is able to significantly reduce both the demand and the usage portions of their electricity bill.  The result is an installation that provides a hedge against the price increases and changes that are likely to come with the current utility “rate reforms”.

About TerraVerde Renewable Partners

TerraVerde Renewable Partners, headquartered in Larkspur, California, is an independent energy advisor that helps schools, public agencies and private companies reduce energy costs.  Selected as CASBO’s Strategic Alliance Partner : Energy Advisor, the firm provides School District’s with comprehensive Proposition 39 program development services.  As an independent and objective third party, TerraVerde evaluates the feasibility of energy cost reduction projects at no cost to the client.  On behalf of its clients, TerraVerde creates and manages a competitive bid process to secure qualified providers of installation and financing services, oversees implementation of the project, and provides ongoing asset management and performance reporting services to ensure that energy cost savings goals are achieved. For more information, please visit: www.tvrpllc.com.

Sun Light & Power Cements Partnership With Soled Benefit Corporation

Investment in San Rafael-based solar electric finance specialist unites two California Benefit Corporations to provide low-cost clean energy for schools, municipalities and public service organizations

BERKELEY CA -- Berkeley-based Sun Light & Power, a leading California solar contractor established in 1976, has acquired a significant stake in SolEd Benefit Corporation., a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) provider and energy finance firm headquartered in San Rafael.

The acquisition marks the beginning of a nonexclusive partnership between two California Benefit Corporations dedicated to providing practical and affordable energy solutions to schools, municipalities and public service organizations.

Gary Gerber, founder and president of Sun Light & Power, says the arrangement will give his customers better access to a full range of financing options, including PPA contracts that allow customers to pay only for the energy they use, while the developer owns and maintains the system and takes the renewable energy tax credits. SolEd’s PPA approach leverages cost-effective energy efficiency measures and sophisticated financial models to lock in significantly lower energy costs over the long term, with little or no up-front cost to the customer, and increasing savings over time. “We wanted to enhance our ability to help our clients navigate the complexities of solar energy financing and incentives,” Gerber says. “A strategic partnership was clearly the best way to achieve that goal, but we took our time finding the right match, with people who truly share our customer-centered values.”

As California Benefit Corporations, both firms are committed to harnessing the power of business for the public good, facilitating reduced costs for solar power installations while maintaining a healthy and sustainable bottom line. “Our mission is to provide host customers with the lowest lifetime cost of energy,” said David Kunhardt, CEO of SolEd. “Sun Light & Power has been delivering quality for repeat customers for decades, and is also a B Corporation, the perfect partner for SolEd.”

While both firms will continue to work with other partners in their respective areas, the close relationship between SolEd and Sun Light & Power will support a more integrated customer experience encompassing all phases of project development and implementation. The two firms are poised to function as co-developers on major projects, fusing SolEd’s considerable expertise in resource assessment, financing and reporting mechanisms with engineering, procurement and construction services backed by one of California’s oldest and most respected solar energy contractors.