Power shift presentation
1 like1,246 views
This document provides an introduction to community solar projects. It discusses various community solar models including neighborhood bulk purchases of solar panels, community supported energy where investors own solar arrays, and solar gardens where subscribers receive credits for the energy generated. The document outlines the benefits of these models for homeowners, renters, businesses, and those in shaded areas. It also discusses how to become a solar gardener to help organize these projects and find host sites and subscribers. Training and resources are available to support this work. The overall goal is to promote affordable and accessible solar energy for all.
Power shift presentation
- 1. Joy Hughes – Solar Gardens Institute Introduction to Community Solar
- 2. Why Local Solar? Make it a community decision
- 3. Sprouting up Everywhere Maps showing community solar interest
- 4. Rooftop Bulk Purchase • Neighborhood residents band together • Installers bid for a large number of roofs • Economy or scale saves money • Example: Solarize Portland
- 5. Community Supported Energy University Park, Maryland • Good for houses of worship, municipal buildings, nonprofits • A group of small investors owns the array and sells power to the church • Sample Legal documents available FREE
- 6. Solar Gardens • Subscription model - Suitable for HOA’s, renters, affordable housing, shaded locations, and historic districts • Distributed Generation – Rooftop or ground mount system connects to local power lines or substation • Virtual Net Metering – Credit directly on the subscribers bill for subscriber’s portion of the array
- 7. Cooperatives • Small investors together provide capital for community solar arrays • “Sponsorship” for subscribers in any solar garden
- 8. Solar Gardeners Program Ellensburg Community Renewable Park • A solar gardener is both a community organizer and project manager • Find host sites and subscribers for solar gardens and community supported energy • Form a local initiative through Grand Aspirations
- 9. Solar Gardener Training • Weekly training sessions – conference calls and webinars • Training videos on YouTube: TheSGInstitute • Request registration form - training@solargardens.org
- 10. SGI’s Mission • To educate the public about community solar energy. • To promote community solar energy legislation at the federal level and in each state • To assist local organizations in organizing, developing, and managing community-owned solar energy projects everywhere. • To make affordable solar energy available for all humanity
- 11. Host Sites • Near 3-Phase distribution line, transformer, or substation • Reclaimed landfills and mines • About 120-150 kilowatts per acre • Large roofs • Industrial sites " " • Retired farmland • Parking lots, storage • Water treatment plants • Airports
- 12. Subscribers “Anyone on the grid” • Must be within "same county (CO) "same utility (WA) • Residential – affluent and moderate income • Local Businesses and Industry • Farmers • Nonprofits, libraries, schools, hospitals, churches • Municipal and county buildings
- 13. Affordable Community Solar • For low income and “middle middle class” • Challenges – income, credit, cash up front • Sponsors make micro loans to subscribers
- 14. Can we make solar beautiful?
- 15. Contact Us solargardens.org Joy Hughes – founder – 719-207-3097 joy@solargardens.org Please sign up for the mailing list
- 20. Contact • Timothy DenHerder-Thomas, Grand Aspirations, (612) 250-1621, timothy@grandaspirations.org • Madeleine Wilson, Cooperative Energy Futures, (612) 807-8789, madeleine@cooperativeenergyfutures.com
- 21. Thank You!