SOLARIZE VALPO

SOLARIZE VALPO
Solar. Simple. Together
Kathy Luther
Director of Environmental Programs
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
SOLARIZE VALPO
Solar. Simple. Together
Solarize NWI is being coordinated by
The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
South Shore Clean Cities
In Partnership with
City of Valparaiso
U.S Department Of Energy
SunShot Initiative
Rooftop Solar Challenge
Funding to support the Solarize campaign is provided by:
SOLARIZE VALPO
Solar. Simple. Together
AGENDA
What is Solarize?
Benefits of Solar
Solar Myths
Solar PV Basics
Solarize Valpo
Meet your Solarize
Installer
 Costs and Benefits
 Getting Started
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



What is SOLARIZE?
“Groupon for Solar Panels”
Multiple residents go solar with a
single installer
Price goes down the more
people sign up
Community organization vets
contractor and negotiates price
Limited time to participate
Where is SOLARIZE?
Over 200 Campaigns in 20 States
Thousands of homes Solarized!
General SOLARIZE process
Decision by
7/10,
Installation
within one
year.
You are
here
Select
Installer
Marketing
&
Workshops
Enrollment
Site
Assessment
Decision
&
Installation
More details
later about
SOLARIZE
VALPO
Benefits of Solar
To You
To Your Community
 Save on your Electric Bill
 Solar Creates Jobs
•
•
Typical home saves $800-900/year
Protect against future rate
increases
 Increases Home Resale Value
•
•
Solar homes sell 20% faster
17% more than non-solar comps
 Federal Tax Credit
•
30 % of installation cost
•
•
•
142,000 US jobs in 2013
Grew 10 x faster than overall economy
A new job is created for every 4
residential solar installations in NWI
 Solar creates economic value
•
Each new residential solar creates
$29.61 economic value for NWI.
 Environmental Benefits
•
•
Solar energy reduces air pollution and
Produces no greenhouse gas
emissions
Common Myths
It’s not sunny enough
Unattractive/Hurts property values
Solar Panels are Fragile
Dangerous Glare
Too Expensive/Too subsidized
Costs jobs/Hurts the Economy
New -Untested Technology
Not Enough Sun in NWI?
Indiana
What About All That Snow?
Will they be storm damaged?
Yes, snow shuts down your solar array
(temporarily) when it blocks the light.
BUT. . .
• There is very little sun in the winter.
• December, January and February =
about 5% of yearly sun
• If snow covers your panels for a few
weeks, you are losing very little energy
production.
• Panels can withstand 2 inch hail, 90 mph
wind.
Go Solar Today!
10
Solar is too expensive
Solar installation costs are
dropping rapidly. They went
down 36% in three years
between 2010 and 2013.
“New Technology”
Solar PV Performance
Some systems have been in place since the 70s
Demonstrated 80 percent of original output after 25 years
Solar PV Basics
How do PV Panels Work
NEED DIRECT SUNLIGHT!
Sunlight dislodges electrons
in a layer of silicon
Electrons flow to layer that
needs electrons
How does a Solar PV System Work?


Grid-connected projects (standard for Solarize) apply for Net Metering (utility
meter spins backwards)
Power outage: Inverter shuts down, unless a battery-back up system is
installed
How are the panels installed?
What is Net Metering
 Credits generated when system is
producing more than is being used
• – “Meter runs backwards”
 Excess credits are carried over month- to month
•
Once a year NIPSCO (or REMC) zeroes out.
 Receive credits at retail rate
What makes a good site ?
Southern exposure
PV panels angled 30˚ – 45˚
At least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight
Open roof area of ~100 sq ft per 1 kW
Open space for a ground or pole
mounted system
Shading can have significant impact.
Installer is the expert in feasibility for
your site!
Homes Best for Solar
Why Go Solar Now?
There has never been a better time to go Solar.
30% Federal Tax Credit on installation cost expires in 2016.
Solar Hardware costs are less than they have ever been
Solarize Valpo makes it easier and less expensive than ever!
Net Metering reduces long term energy bills.
NIPSCO’s Feed-in-Tariff provide an additional incentive
opportunity for customers in NWI.
Let’s Solarize VALPO!
What is Solarize NWI & Solarize VALPO?
Solarize is a way to make Solar Photovoltaic
(PV) systems more affordable and less
complicated for regular people.
Solarize Syracuse
Results:
It’s like a GROUPON for Solar!
4
Towns
500 Initial Sign Ups
120 Eligible Homes
77 Installations
530 kW Capacity
30% Cost saving
Solarize campaigns have been conducted
all over the country, from New England, to
Upstate New York, to Texas, to North
Carolina
Solarize = Solar
Simplified
Simplified with Pre-Qualified
Installer
Request for Proposals November 2014
Sent to over 30 installers in Indiana and
the Great Lakes Region identified through
• Indiana Renewable Energy Association
• North American of Board Certified
Energy Practitioners
Received 4 Proposals
Reviewed Proposals with 6 members of
our Solar Advisory Group:
NIRPC
South Shore Clean Cities
Municipality
Bank
Indiana Office of Energy
Development
IUN School of Public &
Environmental Affairs
Interviewed Top 2 Scoring Installers
Selection Criteria
Quality and Value
Experience
Implementation and Capacity
Price Structure
Simplify with Outreach and
Technical Support
Workshops in Solarize Communities –
Solarize Communities Can win up to a 3 kW System!
Solarize Dyer
Solarize Gary
Solarize Hobart
Solarize Valpo
Regionwide Outreach
Technical Workshops for Local Governments
Solar Permitting Best Practices
Solar Zoning Best Practices
Solar PV and First Responders
SOLARIZE NWI Pricing Tiers
Total NWI
kiloWatts
Installed
Price per Watt
Number Typical
Residential
installs
15 kW-50 kW
50 kW-100kW
100 kW-200 kW
200 + kW
$ 3.95
$ 3.85
$ 3.50
$3.28
3-10
10-20
20-40
>40
Factors affecting individual cost



number of panels
inverter and product selection
rooftop, on ground or shaded parking
 roof material, height, slope and access
 location of site and travel time
 government rules
Solar Incentives
Tax Incentives



Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit – 30%
of Cost
Federal Business Energy Investment Tax Credit
Indiana State Property Tax Deduction
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
 Currently $20/kW in Ohio Market
NIPSCO Incentives
Net Metering
Feed-in Tariff – Phase II
Credit on your NIPSCO bill for energy
you return to the grid
Enrolling now through June 1
Awarded by Lottery
NIPSCO is like your virtual battery
Micro Solar
(5-10 kW)
Int. Solar
(10 – 200 kw)
You can sell your Solar Renewable
Energy Credits (SRECs)
15 year contract
NIPSCO keeps your SRECs
$0.17 /kWh
$0.15 /kWh
Let’s Do the Math
5 kilowatt
Example
Market
Price
SOLARIZE NWI
Price
(100-200kW tier)
Solarize NWI Best
Price
Price *
$21,150
$17,500
$ 16,400
Federal Tax Credit $ 6,345
$ 5,250
$ 4,920
Net Price
$ 12,250
$ 11,480
$ 14,805
What does that buy you?
 ~ 7,000 kWh/year
•
(60-65% of typical residential electric use)
 Estimate $ 800-900/year savings at current electricity rates
 30 year life span (25 year warranty)
 9 year cash flow pay back
More math: what about my electric
bill?
kWh usage/production
Monthly Energy Usage & Expected Solar Production
(5 kW array example)
kWh usage or production
1200
1000
"Home usage -kWh "
Solar PV production - kWh
800
Pre Solar Annual Usage
= 11,015 kWh
600
Post Solar Installation Annual Usage
= 3846 kWh
400
200
0
Jan Feb Mar April May June Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
65% reduction in kWh
usage charged to your
electric bill
More math: what about my electric bill?
Costs
$160
$140
Electric Bill Costs Pre and Post Solar PV Installation
(5 kW array example)
Electric bill before Solar
Electric bill after Solar
Electric Bill Cost in $
$120
Pre Solar Annual Electric Costs
= $1,434
$100
Post Solar Installation Annual Electric
Costs = $510
$80
$60
SAVINGS INCREASE AS
ELECTRICITY COST RISE OVER
TIME
$40
$20
$0
Jan
Feb
Mar April May June
Jul
Aug Sept Oct
Nov
Dec
Estimated Payback Period
for a net installation cost of
$13,871 = 9.8 years
More Math
What does that buy the environment?
175 ton CO2 Equivalent =
 Planting 4,101 trees
 Driving 352,000 miles less, or
reducing gas use by 17,952 gallons
 Recycling 556 tons of waste
 85.7 tons of coal burned
How do you help
Solarize Valpo?
Get the Word Out!
More signups = lower price!
Invite your friends.
It’s a GROUPON!
Tell your Friends and Neighbors!
Your price goes down if more
people sign up.
Contracts signed before July 10th
will still get the lowest final price!
We’ll be posting on social media
and emailing every week with
details on how many kW in your
town, the region, and the latest
price.
Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/solarizenwi
A household is
more likely to adopt
solar
for
each additional installation in
their zip code
How Solarize Valpo works:
1. Sign up online at
www.solarizenwi.com, click on
Solarize Valpo or here a the
workshop.
2. Midwest Wind and Solar will
contact you to provide a free noobligation assessment over the
phone. (or call them direct toll free
at (866) 430-0518)
3. Midwest Wind and Solar can review your
home’s solar potential with on-line tools,
and if solar is a good option for you, will
schedule a free home solar assessment.
How Solarize Valpo works:
4. Midwest Wind and Solar will conduct an on-site solar assessment at your
home, walk you through a proposed system design, provide you with a
detailed financial proposal, and answer any questions you may have.
Installation Cost
Additional costs needed for your home
Current and Projected Energy Cost Savings
Projected Increases in Assessed Property Value
Incentives value
Explanation of Financing Options (if requested)
How Solarize Valpo works:
5. If you decide to proceed, sign an installation contract and spread the
word! Your cost will go down as more folks in the region commit to
SOLARIZE.
6. After the July 10th closing date, everyone with a contract will get the
lowest rate corresponding with our Solarize NWI sign up success!
If Solarize Valpo meets certain targets the Town can win free solar ranging
from a classroom kit, to a 3 kW array with a data monitor and display tablet.
Win Free Solar for Valpo!
If Valpo meets or exceeds:
 30 kW installed:
 - PV solar experimentation kit for classroom use
 50 kW installed:
 1kW PH solar array on community building
 80kW installed:
 3kW solar array
 100kW installed:
 3 kW array, plus a data monitor and tablet for display.
Decisions-Decisions…
Limited Time Offer!
Go to SolarizeNWI.com to
www.nirpc.org/environment/solarize-nwi
https://www.facebook.com/solarizenwi
Stay Tuned for updates on Kilowatts
Committed to date at
Solarizenwi.com or on facebook.
Questions?
Kathy Luther
[email protected]
219.763.6060
Deb Backhus
[email protected]
219.644.3695
Kevin Moore
[email protected]
219.714.2488