Addressing Balance of System Soft Costs: New York State
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Credits: SolarCity, Monolith Solar, Hudson Solar, Solar Liberty Addressing Balance of System Soft Costs: New York State
Transcript of Addressing Balance of System Soft Costs: New York State
Credits: SolarCity, Monolith Solar, Hudson Solar, Solar Liberty
Addressing Balance of System Soft
Costs: New York State
Clean Renewable Local Power
____
Economic Development
___________
Local Jobs
Survey, Benchmark and Analyze
Develop & Implement
New Permitting
Process
Support Broad Implementation
of New Permitting,
Policy & Financing Solutions
IT Tools:Solar Map
Data Platforms
Outreach
Clean Renewable Local Power
____
Economic Development
___________
Local Jobs
Survey, Benchmark and Analyze
Develop & Implement
New Permitting
Process
Support Broad Implementation
of New Permitting,
Policy & Financing Solutions
IT Tools:Solar Map
Data Platforms
Outreach
* 2013 figures based on NY-Sun Initiative goals
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013*
MW
-DC
Year
Solar PV in New York State
Installed
Capacity
Cumulative
Installed
Capacity
Cost of Solar is Declining
$0.00
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
$4.00
$5.00
$6.00
$7.00
$8.00
$9.00
$10.00
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013*
Weighted Average Installed Cost
Avg. Installed Cost
Economic Development Opportunity
Solar installed since
2007 represents
$1.74 billion for
New York economy
$0
$100,000,000
$200,000,000
$300,000,000
$400,000,000
$500,000,000
$600,000,000
$700,000,000
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013*
Value of Installed Solar by Year
Value of installed
solar
The Cost of Solar in the US
$-
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
$4.00
$5.00
$6.00
$7.00
US Solar Cost
$ p
er
Wa
tt
Breakdown of US Solar Costs
Other Non-Hardware Cost
Non-Hardware Cost
Hardware Cost
Source: NREL (http://ases.conference-services.net/resources/252/2859/pdf/SOLAR2012_0599_full%20paper.pdf) (http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/53347.pdf)
(http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/54689.pdf)
Profits, Taxes, & Overhead
$0.00
$0.20
$0.40
$0.60
$0.80
$1.00
$1.20
$1.40
$1.60
$ p
er
Wa
tt
Other Paperwork
Permitting
Installation Labor
Customer Acquisition
Develop & Implement
New Permitting
Process
• Standardized permit for simple systems that are 12 kW or smaller
• Based on Long Island’s form and Solar ABCs
• Solar-specific permit form that uses plans and diagrams required
by NYSERDA and/or utility
• Asks for property information, as well as information on equipment
and mounting system
• Checklist to ensure that systems fall within certain parameters and
comply with local and state codes
• Working with municipalities interested in adopting expedited
permit form and process
Enhancing consistency and transparency in processes statewide
• Show your community is open for solar business
• Receive incentive under NYSERDA’s Cleaner, Greener Communities
• Removes barriers to local economic development, and add solar jobs
Municipalities
• Utilizing a standardized form will increase the quality and accuracy of applications received from installers
• As the number of solar installation s increases, this enables building departments to gather all necessary information to ensure safety of installation.
Building Departments
• Simplify and streamline permitting
• Increases consistency and transparency in permitting
• Ensure that fair, flat fees are set for small-scale installations
• Use same plans for municipality, utility, and NYSERDA
Solar Industry
Benefits of Implementing
NYS Unified Solar Permit
http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Local-Community-
Tools
Develop & Implement
New Permitting
Process
• Adopt permit form
• Increase accessibility of permitting info
• Post form and permitting info online
• Establish timelines for review and issuance
• Fair permit fees
• Single comprehensive inspection with established
timeline
Permitting Best Practices
Clear, consistent info, transparent timelines and fees
Early Adopters – Huntington (LI)
• Town board approved resolutions on 12/13/11
• 358 residential solar permits issued
• Feedback from Buildings Department
– “I believe that it is the most perfect application
that I have seen, and it contains just the right
amount of information needed, not too much nor
too little.”
Early Adopters – Huntington (LI)
Majority of code changes developed by Terese
Kinsley and Deputy Town Attorney Thelma Neira
Sample
resolution
from Town
of Chatham
