Moving Forward with Shared Solar - Save the Sound...Moving Forward with Shared Solar Claire Coleman...
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Moving Forward with Shared Solar Claire Coleman Climate and Energy Attorney David Desiderato Shared Solar Organizer August 2018
Transcript of Moving Forward with Shared Solar - Save the Sound...Moving Forward with Shared Solar Claire Coleman...
Moving Forward
with Shared Solar
Claire Coleman Climate and Energy Attorney
David Desiderato Shared Solar Organizer
August 2018
Our Energy Future
Fossil fuels helped build our economy.
But now we know fossil fuels are harmful.
• Increasing costs
• Climate crisis: extreme storms, floods, fires, global warming
We must control energy costs and prevent climate disaster.
Cut fossil fuels:
Efficiency
Renewable energy
Expand renewables so everyone can go green:
Shared Solar
Virtual Net Metering (VNM)
What is Shared Solar?
• A large solar array.
• Any electricity customer can contract for
part of the power.
How does Shared Solar work?
The array is connected to the grid.
Power goes where it’s needed.
Large scale = cheaper.
“Distributed” power = supports the grid.
Shared solar – who needs it?
Drawings: Shannon Laun
That’s over 800,000 CT homes
Brownfields
Where can large arrays be located?
Big buildings
Along highways Parking garages
250+ closed landfills in CT
Virtual Net Metering (VNM)
“Wholesale” shared solar
Source: http://www.reeba.org/system/wp-content/uploads/Panel-5-VNM.ppt
Why we need Shared Solar and VNM
Our electricity is expensive.
Source: US Energy Information Agency – Electric Power Monthly – February 2018
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_06_a
Rates are high because …
Sources: CT DEEP, Comprehensive Energy Strategy, p. 148-9 - http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/energy/ces/electric_power_sector.pdf
Generation Transmission
& Distribution
137%
65% 135%
Why we need Shared Solar and VNM
Temperatures are rising fast.
Not burning
600 gallons of
oil
a year
or
Planting
159
trees
a year
or Not driving
14,800
miles
a year
Sources: http://blog.energysage.com/health-environmental-benefits-of-solar-energy/
http://blog.energysage.com/what-is-the-environmental-impact-of-solar-energy/
Solar Foundation: , https://www.solarstates.org/#states/solar-jobs/2016
When one home goes solar, it’s the same as:
Not driving
113 billion
miles a
year
Not burning
4.6 billion
gallons of oil
a year
Planting
1.2 billion
trees
a year
8 million U.S. solar homes - the same as:
or or
Going solar makes a difference.
Solar creates jobs, strong economies.
Source:Solar Foundation, https://www.solarstates.org/#states/solar-jobs/2016
US solar jobs increased 24% / year 2010-2017 – 22,000 new jobs/year
We ALL want solar.
Sources: Coalition for Community Solar Access, Deloitte Resources
We ALL pay for solar rebates.
Sources: Eversource Rate 1: https://www.eversource.com/Content/docs/default-source/rates-tariffs/rate1.pdf?sfvrsn=10
United Illuminating Rate R: http://www.uinet.com/wps/wcm/connect/0cc7658041384518ac0fec7a239a91d1/Rate_R_03-30-
2017.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=0cc7658041384518ac0fec7a239a91d1
“Combined Public
Benefit Charge”
1.3 cents/kwh: • System Benefits Charge
- 6/10 of a cent /kwh
• Conservation Charge -
3/10 of a cent/kwh
• Conservation
Adjustment Mechanism
– 3/10 of a cent/kwh
• Renewable Energy
Charge - 1/10th of a
cent per kwh
(26 cents in this
example)
But they don’t go to everyone.
Hartford and
East Hartford
pay more,
get less.
New Haven pays more, gets less.
Meriden, Middletown pay more, get less.
Today: a dirty, risky, costly mix
80%: natural gas and nuclear.
Source: ISO New England - 2017 Net Energy and Peak Load : https://www.iso-ne.com/isoexpress/web/reports/load-and-demand/-/tree/net-ener-peak-load/
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NATURALGAS
NUCLEAR HYDRO WIND REFUSE WOOD COAL SOLAR OIL
Fuel Sources -- % New England, 2017
Clean energy is cheaper every day.
Sources:
International Renewable Energy Agency, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2017, Jan 2018, https://www.irena.org/publications/2018/Jan/Renewable-
power-generation-costs-in-2017 ; Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy 2017 - https://www.lazard.com/perspective/levelized-cost-of-energy-2017/
Solar on rooftops alone could technically
supply HALF of our power…
Source: National Renewable Energy Lab: Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Technical Potential in the United States: A Detailed Assessment – January 2016
https://www.nrel.gov/research/publications.html
…WITHOUT clearing forests or using farmland.
By 2050, ALL our power could come from
renewables.
Source: The Solutions Project: http://thesolutionsproject.org/infographic/#ct
CT towns can start planning for 100%.
Sources: US Energy Information Administration Electricity Monthly Updates - Table 6.2.B https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_6_02_b
CT Green Bank: Section 106 data, through 12/31/17: https://www.energizect.com/sites/default/files/Section%20106%20Data%20for%20Web%202017-12-31.xlsx
258 mw
321 mw
November 2016 November 2017
Solar Capacity in CT (small scale)
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
28,000 CT homes have gone solar
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Homeowners
Businesses
Sources: CT Green Bank, US Energy Administration Monthly Electricity Reports -
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_6_02_b
Towns
8.5
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Towns have used VNM for 27 projects totaling 27.3 MW
(Eversource area)
Approved
In Service
Waiting List
Woodstock now pays 9.3 c/kwh instead of 16 c
Newtown’s landfill has a 4-acre array
producing power at 6.3c/kwh instead of
9.8c. Power goes to police, public works,
and other town facilities.
Sources: Eversource, Virtual Net Metering Annual Reports, PURA Docket 11-07-05, Compliance Order #2;
CT Farm Energy Survey 2014, CT Farm Energy Program, https://ctrcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2014_Farm_Energy_Survey.pdf
7.3
5.0
Farms have used VNM for 13 projects totaling 12.2 MW
(Eversource area)
In Service
Approved
Farmers want renewable energy CT’s VNM shut down long before
demand was met.
Farms
State government—huge potential
Sources: DEEP – Reducing Energy Use at State Facilities -- www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/energy/lbe/Reducing_Energy_Use_at_State_Facilities_February_2017.pdf and utility annual
reports on VNM to PURA.; Acadia Center report on LBE - http://acadiacenter.org/document/status-of-connecticuts-lead-by-example-energy-efficiency-program-for-state-buildings/
“Lead By Example” efficiency program launched in 2012
• 3000 electricity accounts
• 600 million kwh a year (= 90,000 homes)
• 14 cents/kwh
• $84 million in annual electricity costs
BUT: ZERO virtual net metering projects
State Legislature and Administration:
4 years of missed opportunities
2015
2017
2014
2016
Meanwhile ...
Michigan
The Good:
• Utilities must get more
power from renewables
(RPS)
• Shared Solar Program
• Virtual Net Metering
• Commercial Solar
Incentives Extended
• Green Bank and
Efficiency Protections
The Bad:
• Limited eligibility,
caps, delay
• Still capped
• Retail rate net
metering program for
rooftop solar will be
replaced with
restrictive tariff
The work ahead:
• DEEP and PURA proceedings to set up shared solar
• Local action to identify sites and show interest
• Work at the Legislature to expand shared solar
program and ensure fair pricing for rooftop solar
2018: Progress!
Our Goal:
Full statewide shared solar –
so EVERYONE has access
to clean energy
How will we get there?
1. Spread the word about shared solar!
I want
solar,
please!
• Tell friends and family about new
opportunities
• Letters to the editor, to Legislators
• Ask candidates where they stand
• Invite us to speak to your group
• Engage town leadership in shared solar
project development
“We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for.”
How will we get there?
2. Town resolutions that call on legislators to
support shared solar, VNM, fair pricing for solar
CFE can help:
Model
resolutions
Organizing
tips
Local
contacts
“When people lead, the leaders will follow.”
How will we get there?
3. Sign up. Get informed. Stay in touch. http://www.ctenvironment.org
Claire 203-787-0646 x122
David 860-508-0107
Working together, we’ll get there!
CFE is working toward a clean energy future.
