HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 5E 06/21/2010~~AL~
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'DATE.: June 21, 2010
TO: Honorable Mayor and 1Vlembers of the City Council through City Manager
FROM: Vincent Marengo,, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Resolution Appro~ing~ Solar Sonoma County's Solar Implementation Plan
REC®MMENDATION:
It is recommended that the. City Council adopt the attached-.resolution approving Solar Sonoma
County's Solar Implementation'Plan
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, the City of Santa Rosa applied for and was awarded one of twenty-five Department of
Energy Solar America Cities grants. The intent of the grant.-.is to identify and implement
initiatives for solar power and energy eff cieney throughout- Sonoma County. The main
deliverable of the grant is documentation of Sonoma County'"s Solar Implementation Plan (SIP)
and its acceptance by fihe cities participating in its development. The plan recommendations, are
presented such that a city can implement. a program, or ideally, work. in collaboration with other
.cities to establish programs, which will continue to support the countywide installation of solar
energy and energy efficiency projects:. The Solar Implementation Plan can also provide a
framework for additional grant- applications,
L)ISCUSSI®N:
Solutions for barriers to widespread and rapid implementation of solar energy and efficiency
projects were :identif ed through a stakeholder process that included input from the Solar` Sonoma
County (S~SC) .Working Group (a 52-member taskforce made up of stakeholders from
government,. industry; business, and the community),, the SSC Board .of Directors and Advisory
Board, members of S,SC_ Solar Vendor, Energy Efficiency Vendor, and Policy/Finance/Incentives
committees. The result is the Sonoma County Sotai• Implementation. Plan (SIP), which provides
regional strategies to reduce.market barriers to the installation of solar energy systems and
energy efficiency measures,through advances in policy, fi"nancng, education, and market
transformation. The• SIP is a key tool o support the SSC goal. to increase the amount of solar
power produced in'the County by an additional 25 megawatts by 2011.
Agenda Revie: ~ ,~I,/~
Dept. Director.. City Attorney Finance.Direetor,~/esr'%''r/ City Manager
Approving Solar Sonoma County's Solar Implementatiori Plan will allow the. City of Petaluma to
efficiently coordinate with stakeholders; collaborate on the best practices for the use of regional
resources; and avoid duplicate or competing efforts.. The City of Petaluma's participation will
facilitate. completion of the U~.S. Department of Energy grant deliverables by Solar Sonoma
County and allow 'its participation in future grant applications or awards.
.Summary of Solar Implementation Plan,;
The SIP includes six recornmendationssclected from over 50 project ideas- generated by this
stakeholder process. Each recommendation is presented in the report with ats associated market
barrier, benefits,.resources, case studies, constraints; and tasks,•.
1-Regional Standards: Create regional standards that simplify the regulatory process for
solar generation and energy efficiency projects, includng.perrriitting, code compliance,
municipal building code scope/content, zoning ordinances, and general plan elements/language.
2 -Redevelopment/Community .Development/Enterprise Fund Programs/Energy Service
Company ®ption: Use opportixnties within existing. dedicated public funding programs (e.g.,
redevelopment, community development, and enterprise funds). to .focus on solar generation .and
energy efficiency projects within the,scope of the funding program and identify opportunities to
use the Energy Service Company (ESCo) model for cash neutral project implementation.
3 -Training for Gove"rnmenf ,,Staff/.Officials and. Solar/Efficiency Vendors: Provide
government staff and elected offcals-with training and education on solar- energy and energy
efficiency to help support policy decisions and permitting/co'de.compliance decisions, and seek
opportunities to encourage and support training and certification for solar and efficiency vendors
in industry protocols, local codes .and standards, and State. building codes.
4 -Education for Community: Seek opportunities to connect. citizens with solar electric, solar
hot water,. and energy efficiency information and services through existing government channels;
seek new opportunities for government to educate the community on solar power and energy
efficiency and leverage non-governmental educational opportunities, increasing public
awareness and making°them rriore available to the community.
5 -Clean Energy Advocate Program; Support and promote the new countywide Clean .
.Energy Advocate program, which:. provides independent, non-commercial advocates to help grow
public awareness of the program, educate property owners about project.. planning, financing and
implementation of energy retrofit projects, and assists in identification of homes that would be
good candidates for solar and efficiency measures.
6 -.Request-for-Propos.alBid Clearinghouse: Promote creation of a countywide Web'portal..
fqr, solar and efficiency government requests-for-bid's to assist local vendors in identifying
business 'opportunitiesto provide competitive bids and encourage government members of Solar
Sonoma County'to participate:
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
There are no direct costs associated with approval of the attached resolution, which provides for
continued collaboration with other local agencies in the County., No funds are currently
budgeted or available for any significant level of effort or involvement.
ATTACIIIVIENTS
Resolution
2
• i
The item listed below is' large'in volume and is not attached to this, report, buY may be viewed in'the City
Clerk's. office:
Exhibit A to Resolution: Sonoma County `Solar Implementation Plan
/~TTACHNIE1dT 1
RESOLUTION.
APPROVING SOLAR SON®MA COUNTY'S SOLAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of"Petaluma joined So1'ar Sonoma County in 2008, to support
initiatives for more solar power-and energy efficiency throughout Sonoma County; and
WHEREAS,. being a member of Solar Sonoma .County provides the City of Petaluma
the benefits of :Solar Sonoma County's !support through technical advice and assistance regarding
solar installations and energy efficiency; and
WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Solar Tmplementaton Plan was prepared by Solar
Sonoma. County~~inder a U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant administered by
the City of Santa Rosa; and
WHEREAS, the Solar Implementation Plan is a key tool. for Solar Sonoma County's
goal to increase the amount of solar power produced in the, County by an additional 25
megawatts by 2011; and
W><-LEREAS, the Solar Implementation Plan provides regional strategies to reduce
market. barriers. to the installation of solar energy systems and' energy efficiency measures,
through advances in policy, financng,~education, and market transformation; and
„ WHEREAS, the ..Solar. Irnplementatiori Plan is a valuable resource that can help
achieve the greenhouse gas reduction goals of the City of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, the Solar.Implementation Plan enables'the. City of Petaluma to
cff eently coordinate with stakeholders,,collaborate on the best practices for the use of regional
resources, and avoid duplicate or competing efforts..
NOW., TH'ER'EFORE,: BE IT' RESOLVED that. the: City Council of the City of
Petaluma accepts the ;Solar Implementaton.Plan, attached as Exhibit A taResolution and
incorporated herein by reference, prepared by Solar S`onorna County, and -will continue to
collaborate with other cities and the County in the Solar Sonoma County effort to` implement and
become a leader in olar power installation and energy efficiency across Sonoma County the
nation.
4
;:
,. ~,
EXI~I~IT A.TO'tSESOLIYT~OPB
S~~onorna~Coun~ty~ Sohar Im,pler~entati-on Plan
Solar Sonoma County
March 2010
u ~~ w~.~~. __
1900 College Avenue, 2nd Floor
Santa. Rosa„ California 95404
(707)284-..9799
www.solarsonomacounty.or~
This reportwa5.funded by;aSolar America Cities pt-ogram-grant
through~Sblar Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CaLifo.rnia.l
• Contributors'and. reviewers'inefude: •~ , •
Solar-Sonoma County •
Board of Directors
Craig Oarlock John Lloyd, Barry Coghill Keh Norton
ChaiY Vice Chair, '.Secretary ' `T'reasurer
Solar Craft International Brotherhood Solar Consultant Finaricial~Consultant
._
of Electrical'Workers`-
Local551 ,
DaveBrennan john Haig Martha Baeli ~ "
Sonoma.County County of Sonoma PacificGas & Electric
Regio_ naCLlimate •
Protectiori.Authority
Solar Sonoma County
Advisory Board
.Michael Kyes Alan Strachan Tasha Wright Dell''TredihnicK
Sebastopol Heat and''Cool Green, Energy Loan City of Santa Rosa City of:Santa Rosa
Deb Fudge Steve Pantazes Jay Jackson Raymond Baltar
..... .
Town of Windsor- Town of Windsor' GreenVolt.lne. Moon;Valley Studio
Councilinember Building Official
Solar Sonoma County
- Officers/,Staff
Alison Healy Lori Houston, Marty,Ro6erts
Executive Director Co-:Founder Co-Founder'
Associate Director Former Co-Director
Ken Wells Ches,Cone Tim Bacon
Technical Advisor Researcher/Writer- SSC Office Coordinator '
- Solar`Implemenfation'-Plan
Coordinator
' Fittp"c//www:solaramericacities:erier~v.~ov/
Solar Sonoma County Vllorking'Group
Alex Hinds, Sonoma Stale L1niJersity Gene Quisisem; Gr'een.Ray Maddy Hirshfield, Assemblyman
Anrr`Hancock, Climate Protection ~ Technologies ~ Wes Chesbro representative
Campaign;. Executive Director Glenn Schainblatt, City of. Sebastopol, Marilyn Staridley,, City of Sebastopol,
Briana Herpst;;CityofCloverdale, Building Department, Planning Commission
Administrative Specialist G~antDavis, Sonoma County Water MichaeFAllen, State Senator
Carol Russell, City of Cloverdale ~ Agency; Assistant General . - Pat.Wiggins representative
' Councilmember ~ Manager ~ Mike(McGuire; Cityof Wealdsburg,
Damien Obid, City of Cotati, Public Jane Elias;,City.of Cloverdale _Councilmember
Works Department Jerry Guffey, Mission'Capital Robert Coleman-Senghor,
Dave Shufro, AgilentTechnologies 1erry.ScPiafer, Affinity Solar - City.ofCotat, Mayor
Deb fudge, Town of Windsor, Jessica Diaz, Sonoma Gou,nty Ron Knox, Knox HVAC
Councilmember Supervisor Shirlee Zane Ryan Sakata, Sonoma Mountain Village
Denise Soza, International representative Sharon Ledbetter; Eco-Green Real
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers_ Kevin~Gilleran,.Gilleran Energy ~ Estate Agent Training
Diane Ramirez, City of Petaluma, Public Management Steve.Pantaies; Town of Windsor,
Works Department Laurie Gallian, City of Sonoma, Building Department
Evefina Molina, North Bay Institute'for Councilmember Tiffany Renee, Cityof Petaluma,
Green Technology, Executive. Len Greenwood, Montgomery Higfi Councilmember
Director School. Green Academy Tom Cuhmann;tity of Rohnert Park,
Fred Conklin; Stonefield_HOmeowners ". Linda'Kelly, City of Sonoma, City Building Department
.Association Manager Veronica Jacobi, City of Santa Rosa,
Councilmember
.Contents
Executive`Summary, ..........................:..............................:...:.....................................::.::...:.....:..............:... ... i
Goals ...:....:........:.. .:....:...........:..:.:....... :..::..:. ..:::..::.:.:........:.............:..::..:. ..:::..:.:....:...........:...:. ... i
• IVlar.ket Bacriers ..:.........................:...................::.......................................................::..:.....................: .. ii
Recommendat`ions ...........:.................:.:.::..................:.:.,:,..:.......................................:...............:......... ii
' i
Introdiction :.::.: :....::.: : ....:...........:... .:.:..:.. .:..:::.: .:............ ..::.:.............::.:.... :.:......:..:...,....:...:......
..1
Background .......:..................:...................:..:........................:......................:............................:................... ..1
Economic Recession, .:.,.:..........:.. ..;..... .:....:. .......:. • :..:.......:....... ,, .:... ......:. _•_..: ,,..,... .:2
Climate Change...::...: :: ..: :. 2
Collaboration .............:......:....................................:...:.:.......................................:...........:...........,..........: ..4.
Goals-and Objectives : ...:................. ....:,:;........:.. ,....:........:...............:. ....:.::. ::...... .....::: -.:..:..: ,.4
New SolarLapacity :.....:......................:.....................:......:.:............................................................:....:.5
M;a"r`ketTransformation.: ....:.:....... ..,..,.,. _ ...,.,.......,:.,.......,:...:............ .....,. ...:................. ...... ..5
. Project.List..:...........:, .............:...... ::::..:.:.:..:.:.::..s::...... ..::.,:...:..:...... :.::...:: ..;..:..: ,..:..., .g
12esou~cces arid Market Barriers ...:..:...........................................................:..................:.......::................ .. 6
Market Barriers ................................................................................................................................... ..7
Strategies and',A'ctions . .................... .;::_:.,..:......:. ..:,..,......,:............... ,.:~.,.. ....._..: ::...:. .,..,.., :.8
Policies/Regulations ...............................,......................:................:..........:.:.:..:.::::.::..:::..:..:.:.:..::::.::::..,: :: 8
1 - R,egiona Standa_rds .....:........ ...:..... ..::... . ...................:...................................:.......................,8
F'ipancing/In~entves•...:.,.:.... :.....:., ..:..:., .;..,..,. ,::...:. ::.......................,........,:............ .....::..........:.. 18'
2 -- Redevelopment, Communify Development,:,and Enterprise Funds.........: _ :,..:.;. ,:.::.... .......... 18
Education ........:..........::.................:. :.:....:. ..::...:...:.:.::.....:...:.....:.:.........:....::..... :...:..,:::.....:..:: .::..:... 20
3 - Training for GovernmentStaffi%Elected :Officials and Solar•/Efficiency Vendors.........: ..........:..... 20
4 -Education for Community :..........:.... ..,.... ~ - .................. 25
.Market Transformation.....::.- ......:::. .:...:: :..:..............:..::.....:............... ..:..::.......:.::....:.:....... -::....... 31
5.-Clean Energy Advocate.Program ............................:..................................................:................. 31
6' =Clearinghouse for Re`quest:for-Bids. _ ...,,.,.
........ ....:...........:................ ............................:..
33
A'ppendices ................................................,.................:............:......... :..,.., .::.:: ,::..... :...,.. ;..::.:. -35
Appendix 1; Solar Implementation. Plan History ..................................:.......:.....:............:....................... 37
Appendix 2: Additional SIR Recommendations ::;; .....::...:.:...:... ......:: ...,:..:. ....:..,. :,...:.., .::....:: 38
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Executive Summary
Solar power and energy efficiency constitute. awin-win formula to jump. start the .local econorriy and
effectively respond to the climate ckiange crisis. To address these important opportunities, this Sonoma
County Solar Implementation Plan was prepared by Solar Sonoma County, a nonprofit public/private
consortium of focal governments, businesses; other entities and individuals working collaboratively to
identify and implement initiatives to promote, expand, and accelerate solar power and energy efficiency
throughout,Sonoma County, under a U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant ad`ministered
bythe City of Santa Rosa.z
Goals
The Solarlmplementation Plan. (SIP) provides strategies for collaboration between local governments
and the private sector to reduce market;barriers to the installation of solar electric systems, solar
thermal systems, and energy efficiency`measures through advances in policy, financing; education; and
market transformation... Itwill function as a road map and plan for our efforts to move our County and
the nation to widespread adoption of solar energy and. energy efficiency concepts.
The SIP is~designed to encourage the installation of solar electric and solar thermal systems and to offset
countywide,peakcnergy demand at minimum -ideally meeting a significantly larger portion'of
countywide electrical demand ultimately -toward achieving GHG emissions reductions through.
increased. energy efficiency and renewable energy generation." It does this in twaways: New solar
capacity and market transformation.
New Solar Capacity
The SIP supports the goals of Solar Sonoma County:
• Add 25 megawatts (MV1/) of new solar generation by May 2011,3
Over the long-term; replace 250 MW of peak demand with a combination of solar energy generation
and energy efficiency,.and
• Support countywide GHG reduction targets.4
Market Transformation
In order to meet Solac Sonoma County's 2011 goal, the SIP focuses on regional strategies for market
transformation to remove financial, regulatory, and educational barriers to residential and. non-
residential property owner participation. Market transformation on a countywide scale offers several
advantages to local governments; these include the ability to coordinate with government, business,
and,communitypartners, to collaborate on thebest practices for'the use of regional resources,. and to~
avoid duplicate or competing efforts. In :addition; focusing orithe countywide market allows {oval
z Solar Sonoma County: http://wwwaolarsonomacounty:ore/
3 In March 2008, wfiemthe Solar America Cities grahtwas awarded,,there were.l3 MW of installedsolarpower systems;in the
county. According to PG&E; an additional 10.75 MW of solarelectric generation have been added to Sonoma County between
March 2008 and January 2010. '
° Reduce GHG emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015
Solar Jmplementation Plan•
•Solar Sonoma County
governments to identify ways.to collaborate on standardizing policy and regulation,~aidingin reducing.
vendor~costs through streamlined permitting and. code compliance procedures, updating municipal
codes~for additional clean energy opportunities, and pursuing ong=ter.m strategies for sustainable
community planning.
Market Barriers
Market barriersand~proposed solutions,wereidentified,through a; stakeholder process that included
input from the Solar Sonoma County'(SSC) Working Group (a 52-membertaskforce made up of
stakeholders from government; industry;. business, and community); the~SSC Board of-Directors and
Advisory Board, members ofahe,,SSC Solar Vendor, Energy. Efficiency.Vendor, and`Policy/Finance/
Incentives committees; the U.S. Department of Energy Solar America:Gites. technical team, and research
into activities by other Solar America,Cities communitiess and local;government programs.
Key marketbarriens include:
_ ,.
• Differences in permitting„code.complance, building codes, zoning; and General. Plan process
relating to solar and energy efficiency that require vendors to track multiple regulatory rules across
jurisdictions,
• Need for education among building'department staff, and elected and executive-level government
officials regarding emerging;policy and.technological opportunities,.
• Need for education among,localaolar and efficiency vendors.about energy code issues and building
collaborative working relationships with local building officials,
• Lack of central, searchable library of requests for bid for solar and',efficiency projects,
• Undertased opportunitiesao leve"rage existing funding resources,~and
® Lack of residential and non-residential property owner awareness about the economic,
environmental, and personal benefits of solar and energy efficiency.
• Lack of a neutral energy°advocateito assist residential property~ovvners with. up-to-date information
on solar and efficiency information,~options and incentives.
Recommendations
The recommendations included in the.Sl_P were selected by the Solar Sonoma County (SSC) Working
Group and Advisory Board'from a field of more than 50.ideas suggestions compiled through the above
cited stakeholder process. Each recommendation is presented. in the report with its associated market.
barrier, benefits, resources, case studies, constraints, and tasks:.
s U.S. Department of Energy:•Solar America Cities: http://www.solaramericacities.ener~y.~ov/
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Policies/Regulations -
1 - Regional Standards: Seek opportunities to create. regional~staridards thatsimplifythe•regulatory
process-for solar generation and energy efficiency prgjecfs,-including permitting; code compliance;.
municipal building code scope/content, zoning ordinances, and:general plan elements/language.
Financing/Incentives
2 -Redevelopment/Community Development/Enterprise Fund Programs:;Seek_op;portunties within
existing-.ded'icafed-public funding programs. (e.g.,; redevelopment, community"development; and
enterprise funds):.to fgcus on.solar generation and~energy efficiency public a`gencyprojects within the
scope of the funding program. , .
Education%Outreach - -
- 3 - Training`for Government'Sfaff/Officials and Solar/Efficiency Vendors: Seek, opportunities. and
resources: to provide government staff and elected officials with training.and.education; on solar energy-
and energyefficiency to help support policy°and permitting/code.compliance decisions;andseek.
opportunitiesto encourage and support training and~,~certification for solar and efficiencyvendors~in
industry protocols,_Ibcal cod.esand standards; and:State 6uildirig codes.
4 -Education for Community: Seek opportunities to connect citizens with solar electric, solar thermal,
. ,
and energy efficiency information and servicesthrough existing;goverriment°channe`IS seek new. ' ^
opportunitiesfgr government to educate the community on solar power arid'energy efficiency and
leverage non-goverrmental educational opportunities,.increasing public awareness "and niaking~them
more available to the community.
Market`Transformation~
5 - GlearrEnergy:Advocate Program:Support and promote the new countywide-Clean;Energy Advocate
program, help grow public awareness of,ths program, help grow public awareness of th.e program, and
assist in identifieat,ion'of homeowners whose homes would be'good candidates forYsolar and efficiency
measures. -
6 -Request-for-.Proposal/Bid Clearinghouse: Promote the creation of a countywide Web portal for
solar and efficiency government requests-for-bids #o assist local'vendors in dentifying!bitldng
opportunities and providing competitive bids, and encourage,government members~of~SSC to
participate. '
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
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Introduction
Solar,power and energy efficiency constitute awin-win #ormula to jump start the.local.economy and
effectively respond to the. climate change crisis. To address°these important opportunities, this Sonoma
County Solar Implementation Plbn was prepared by'Solar Sonoma. County, a noriprofit public/,private
consortium. of local governments, .businesses, and other entitiesand'individuals,workng collaboratively
to identify and implement initiatives to promote; expand, and accelerate solar povve_r and energy
efficiency,throughout Sonoma County under a U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant
administered by the City of Santa Rosa.6
The Solar Implementation Plan (SIP) provides strategies for collaboration among local governments and
the private sector to. reduce market barriers to the installation of solar electric and solarthermal.
systems,,arid energy eff, iciency measures; through advances irr policy, financing; education, and market.
transfo,rrnatign. II will, function as a road, map and plan,-for our efforts to move our County~andthe
nation to widespread adoption of solar energy. and energy efficiency concepts..
The goals:ofthe plan ace to make the best use of.government a.nd private sector resourees~to prorriote
widespread~adoption of solar and energy efficiency measures,. prevent duplication of`effort,.engage a
wide-range of`communitystakeholders,standardizeclean energy implementation processes; support
local, State; and Federal greenhouse gas.emission reduction goals; and support Solar Sonoma County's
goal to. install 25 megawatts (MW) of:new solar energygeneration in Sonoma County:by May 2011.
The SIP includes.six recommendations selected by the Solar Sonoma County Vl/orking.Group Arid
Advisory Board from more'than SO project'ideas generated by SSC members~and research into activities
by other Solar America Cities communities' and local'government programs (see Appendix 1 Solar
Implementation Plan --History).
Background
Bringing solar.power into the mainstream in Sonoma County has long been the goal of a dedicated team
of local business, government,,and community supporters. The effort began in 2002 with the formation
ofSolar,Sebastopol, which;w.orked to install 1 megawatt (MW) of new solar generation within the City of
Sebastopol. Later'the group. partnered with the City of Santa Rosa to serve the entire county under a
new. name (SolarS.onoma,County.); anew format(public/private consortium), with new funding (U.S.
Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant), and a new goal: install 25 MWs of olar powerwithin
Sonoma County by May 2011.$
As the local;renewable~nergy movement has grown,:global forces have emerged that lend new urgency
to the vision of expanded implementation of solar power: economic recession and. climate eNange
caused 6y increasing greenhouse gas.emissions.
e SolarSonoma Gounty:_. http://www.solarsonomacounty:or~/
~ U.S. Depaitment of Energy:`Solar America Cities: tittp://www.solaramericacities.ener~v.aov/
$ See Appendix 2, Solar Implementation Plon .- History
:Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Economic.Recession
Since December2007, the nation has experienced its worst economic recession in six decades,
beginning in the`housing sector; expanding to the financial and consumer sectors, and"eventually
affecting the global economy. The California, unemployment rate (12,4 percent in IVlarch 2010) is at its
highestsince 1945 with four-fifths of the losses occurring between July 2008 and July 2009. In addition,
the State s construction industry experienced earlyand steady job loss over the past two and a half
years9 and local construction experienced a 14.9 percent job loss between August 2008 "and 2009.10
Meanwhile, Sonoma County's overall unemployment rate reached 10.1 percent.in October"2009,11
which is on par with the national aVerage.,of'10.2 percent. Rising unemployment and job losses are cited
as "concerning trends" in the 2010 Soribma County Indicators report published by the.Sonoma County
Economic Development. Board, which noted that over the past year the number of jobs in Sonoma
County has declined by five percent.lz
According to the California Employment Development Department, the national economy is about to
enter a period of recovery; however; California's economic recovery-is expected to lag behind the riation
because the State fas experienced greater job losses and government budget shall"enges on the~State
and local level.
In Sonoma County, the federal American. Recovery and"Reinvestment Act `of 2009 (ARRA), which
provides funding forjob creation and energy efficiency/renewable energy programs, the Sonoma
County RetrofitJRenewables Program; which will soon provide market transformation' infrastructure,
and the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP),13,wliich provides financing for solar and
other clean energy systems and efficiency retrofits, offer a unique opportunity to encourage investment
in clean energytechnology, grow the. local market for solarand efficiency services, create green
economy jobs, and jump=start'the local economy. A preliminary r=eport~gn SCEIP's job-creation effects
indicates that Sonoma County construction=related jobs have increase by:8.4 percent since the
program's inception in March 2009, in a "period relative declineinjobs~for neighboring jurisdictions.la
Climate Change
To prevent and mitigate. impacts created by climate change and risingglobal temperature, the
international scientific community has determined a "safe" upperlimit=forGHGs to be 350 parts-per-
million' (ppm), which occurred in 1990; the current GHG level is 390 ppm.ls At the December 2009
9 A Labor Doy Briefing for Californiv, California Employment.Development,Department; September 2009
107he California Economy: Bounce of Splat? What Next? Dr. Christopher ThoPnberg; `Beacon Economics,. http://wwwaonoma-
county.or~/edb/pdf/2009/what's. next:pdf
,. _.
"California CaborMarketlnfo www.labormaEketinfo.edd.ca.~ov/ .
iz 2010Sonomo County-lndicoiors, Sonoma County Economic Development Board, http://wwwsonoma-
county.org/edb/pdf/2010/sots ihdicators.pdf
i3 Sonoma County Energy:fndependence Program, http://www.sonomacountyenergy.ot~/
14 "Growth in Constructian Economic Activity in Sonoma County and the Sonoma,County.E.nergy Independence Program,"
Sonoma:'County"'Water Agency, November 18,.2009; http://www.scwa.ca.~ov/files/does/news/Economic-Acitivity-and-SCEIP-
Nov-232009-fi naltpdf
is "Climate change refers 4o,any significant change in measures of climate (such-as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting
for an extended period'(decades or.longer). Climate change may result'from: natural factors, such as changes in the sun's
intensity or slow changes in tFie.Earth's'orbit around the sun; natural processes vvithimthe climate system (e.g., changes in
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change.(IPCC)`Director Dr. Rajendra Pachuari opened the conference by observing that "if [the
global] temperature increase is to be limited to betvyeen 2.0° and 2:4° Celsius, global. emissions must
peak no later than 2015."
Known as the scientific imperative, this global deadline illustrates how climate change, which affects
every aspect of~the~local community from food and energy security to economic stability to resource
availability, is redefining government's role as protector of`community health and~safety. New policies
sand mandates at every level of government call #orthe expansion of-solar power a7id :energy efficiency
initiatives:
• On the;federal level, climate change is a factor in the American Recovery arid' Reinvestment Act of
2009 federal stimulus package,16`which iricludesfunding for energy efficiency programs; and is the
primary foeus.of th:e American Clean,Energy and Security Act," which is currently under
consideration in the U:S. Senate and includes provisi.ons'forincr~asing solar energy; settng:~energy
efficiency.benchmarks, setting:GHG reduction4targets, and transitioning to a clean energy.economy.
On the state level,:ASsembly Bill-32 -,Global .Warming Solutions Act of2006,18 which mandates
state GHG-reduction targets (1990 levels by 2020;,80'percent below 199Q levels. by 2050); opened
the door for a series.of new laws focused on.reducing,GMG emissions and transforming the market
for clean energy services, including localgovernmentfinancing for solar and energy efficiency
projects under Assembly Bill 811.19 Assembly Bill 474 expanded the scope of AB' 811 to include water
conservation.. measures, augmenting thafsfatute.20 Senate Bill 375 requires the California Air
Resources Board to set regional greenhousegas reduction targets for automobile/light truck
emissions and develop "sustainable.community strategies" for land use planning'•to reduce the
urban sprawl that leadsto long commutes and increasing vehicle emissions.Zl ,
On thelocal level,. climate change has spurred an unprecedented level of regional collaboration
between governments, business, and the community. Since 2001, the Climate Protection Campaign
(CPC) has facilitated countyvvide implementation ofthe International'Council,for,local
Environmental Inifiat`Ves; (ICLEI) five-step climate-awareness campaign tFiat~fosters local
collaboration to establish a GHG emissions 6aseline,;set a reduction target, develop a local climate
action plan,. implement the action plan, and monitor the results. Most recently; the Sonoma~County
Transportafbn Authority formed,the Sonoma County Regional' Climate Protection Agency (RGPA);
the first;agency of its kind in the State, to address issues of regional and local~collaborafion on
climate issues.
ocean circulation); or humari:activities that'ehange the atmo"sphere`s composition (e~:g., through bui`ning fossffuels)~and the
land surface (e:g:,deforestation,:;ceforestation;.urbanization, desertification, etc:)'," U.S.' Environmental'Protection Agency;
http://www.eqa.ROV%climatechani;e/basieinfo;htmf
ie http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hl'11<1&tab=summaw
" http://www.goytrack:us/congress/bilP:xpd7bill=hl'111454&tab=summary.
is http://www.arb:ca goy/ec/ab32%a632.htm
19 h€tp://ihfoaen:ca;gov/pull/07>08/bill/asm/ab 0801-0850/ab 81-1 Ibill 20080221 chaptered'.pdf'
20 http://irifoseo.ca.gov%pu6/09-10/bill/asmLab 0451-.0500/ab 424 bill 2009101'1 chacitered.pdf'~
z~ http://info.sen.ca's~ov/pub/09-I0/bill/sen/sb~.0351-0400/sb 375, bill20090414 amended, sen y98:pdf
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Collaboration
Sonoma.County governments have set several national precedents~for regignal collaboration: The first
collaborations arose as part of the ICLEI program" under which all'ten local governments committed to
reducing-GHG emissions (2002), determined an emissions baseline for thei"r res"pective municipal
operations,(2003), determined a countywide baseline for total GNG emissions (2004), set a countywide
GHG r-edu:ction target (2005).- 25,percent below 1990 levels by 2015-and supported the
development of the Sonoma County Commun"ity Climate.Aefion Plan, which. was published by the CPC in
2008. zz .
All lOlocal governmeritsexpa'nded their regionaFcollaborafion~in 2008-2009 by participating in:
"Solar Sonoma .County, a 501c3•nonproft public/private. consortiu"m Working Group consisting of
representatives from all ten local,governments, business, community, and energy-efficiency and
renewable energy industriesto explore opportunities for collaboration to promote the installation
of solar technology and systems and energy efficiency measures ,and overall market
transformation;23 .
Sonoma County Re~ional~Climate.Protection Authority, established in 2009 to improve inter-agency
and community collaboration.and coordinate government"and community initiatives for climate
protection;za
Sonoma County Enemy Independence Program (SCEIP), (the first 'comprehensive and completely
integrated countywide Property=Assessed-Clean-Energy [RACEj:financing program in the nation)
created "by the County of Sonoma to`;provide property tax assessmerit financing for solar and energy
efficiency projects using Assembly Bill"811;25 and
® Sonoma County Retrofit/Renewables Program, forthcoming in spring 2010, was initiated.to provide
residential and commercial prQpertyowners with.one-stop aceess~to energy analysis, certified
vendors, and a financing package~for solar and energy efficiency retrofit. projects, working in
collaboration with SCEIP and leveraging that existing resource.26
Goals and Objectives
The Solar Implementation Plan (SIP).is designed to build on existing regional"collaborations to encourage
the installation of solar electric and solar thermal systems; offset peak energy demand through
renewable energygeneration,and reduce GHG emissions through energy efficiency.
22 Sonoma County Community Clmote Action Pfon, Climate Protection Campaign, 2008; http://www.coolplan.or
z3 Solar Sonoma County, htttia//www.solarsonomacounty.or~
24'Sonoma County Regional?Climate Protectioh Authority, http://wwwactainfo.org/rcpa:htm
zs Sonoma County Energy+Ind'ependence Rrogram, http://wwwsonomacountyener~vtori
ze Sonoma County Retrofit/Renewables Program, Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority,
http://www:sctainfo.or~/rcpa.h4m
4
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
New Solar Capacity
The SIP supports the goals of Solar Sonoma County:
® Add 25 megawatts (MW) of new solar generation by May 2011,
® Over the longaerm,. replace 250 MVV `of peak demand with a combination ofysolar,energygcneration
and energy;efficiency; and '
® Support countyvvide GHG reduction targets. "
In March.2008; when the Solar America Cities grant. was awarded, there wece,l3 MW.of installed solar
power systems in the couny. According to_PG&E,.an additional T0.3 MW of solar electric generation
Have been added t'o Sonorna County between March 2008~and December 2009,:aligningtyith the
initiation of program. efforts in Soler Sonoma County; this number does not include olar thermal.s.ystem
installations.
Market Transformation
In order ta,meef'its 2011;goal in a timely manner, ahe SIP focuses on regionalstrategiesfor market
transformation,=to remove financial,.regulatory, and.educational barriers-to property owner
participation. IVlarket;transformation on a~countywide scale offers several advantages tojocal -_
governments including the ability to coordinate with government, business, and community partners;, to
collaborate on the best practices for the use of regional resources; and to avoid.diaplicate or~competing
efforts. In addition, focusing on the countywide'marketatlows local governme"nts identify ways to
collaborate on standardizing'policy/regulation issues such,as reducnglvendor costs through streamlined
permitting and code compliance procedures, updating municipal-codes for additional clean energy
opportunities, and pursuing coordinated long=term strategies`for sustainable community planning;
RecommendatiorrList
The SIP includes six re.commendations,.eh'osen by members of the Solar Sonoma County Working,Group
and Advisory Board.-
Policies/Regulations
1 -Regional Standards: Seek opportunities to create regional standards that simplify the regulatory
process for solar generation and energy`efficiency projects; including permitting, codecompliance,
municipal building°codescopc/content, zoning ordinances, and general plan elements/language.
Financing/Incentive's
2 =Redevelopment/Community:Development/Enterprise Fund Programs: Seek opportunities within
existing dedicated public funding programs (e.g., redevelopment, community development; and
enterprise funds)~to focus onaolar generation-and "energy. efficiency public agency projects within the
scope of the funding' program.
Education/Outreach
3 -Training for Government Staff/officials and Solar/Efficiency Vendors: Seek opportunitiesiand
resources to provide government staff'a.rsd elected officials with training and"education: on;solar energy
Solar Implementation Plgn
Solar Sonoma County
and':energy efficiency to help support policy and. permitting/code, compliance deeisio.ns, andseek
opportunitiesto encourage~and support training~and eertificafion for solarand efficiency vendors in
industry protocols, local codes and standards, and State building codes.
4 -Education for Community: Seek opportunities to con""nett citizens with solar~electric, solar thermal,
and energy efficiency information anal services through. existing government.channels; seek new
opportunities for government to educate the:community on solar power and energyefficiency and
leverage non-governmental educational opportunities, increasing public awareness and making them
more available to the community...
Market Transformation ~ ,
5 -Clean Energy Advocate~Program: Support and promote the new countywide Clean Energy Advocate
program, help grow public awareness of this program, help grow public=awareness of the program, and
assist ih identification ofhomeowners whose homes would be good'.:candidates for solar and efficiency
measures.
6 -Request-for-Proposal/Bid Clearinghouse: Promote the creation-of,a.countywide Web portal for
solar and efficiency government requests-for=bids to assist local``vendor's in identifying bidding
opportunities and providing competitive .bids, and encourage government members of 5SC to
participate.
Resources and Market Barriers
Resources
To reach the goal of 25 MWs of.newsolar power by 2011 requires aclean-energy market transformation
that will result in the removal of market barriers to solar/efficiency, the stimulation of market demand,
the development of a trained workforce,'and the creation of financing mechanisms to underwrite local
investment in the new green economy. The recommendations.included in the SIP are designedto
coordinate with and enhance existing:resources/programs dedicated.to local market transformation,
including: .
® Sonoma County Regional Climate,Protection Authority: In 2009, Through their representation on the
Sonoma County7ransportation Authority; local governments supported the establishment ofthe
Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) to improve communication,
collaboration, and;coordination orr,climate change issues among governments, _business, and the
community, and esta6lisli;a clearinghouse for planning, funding, and implementation efforts to
reduce GMG emissi'ons.-
Sonoma County€nergy Independence Program: Founded in March 2009, SCEIP:-is.the first
comprehensive'and completely integrated countywide Property-Assessed-Clean=Energy (PACE)
financing program°in'California under Assembly Bill 811. The County of Sonoma expanded the
application of the PACE concept to amulti-jurisdictional program that is supported by all nine
Sonoma County cifies. Established during a national economic recession that significantly limits
- Solar Implementation Plan -
SolarSonoma County
traditional financing,-resources, SCEIP removes one•of the.biggest market bars-iers -lack of access to
affordable'finan,cing:-anl is now a model for PACE programs across the nation.
• .Grant Programs: Economic recession and climate change are the focus ofthe federal American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which fundsJocal government pr'ogr;ams for job creation
and energy efficiency and renewable energy;generation. Local governments h-ave: applied for ARRA
funds through several grant programs including tlje: Energy Efficiency and Conservation' Block'Grant
(EECBG); program,'State Energy Program (SEP); and the lj,S. Department of ,Ener,gy's~Retrofit Ramp
Up progi-am:27 On February 10, 2010;ahe State Energy Program review committee released its
recommendation that the California Energy Commission approve two local grant proposals:
$1,914;000 to the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority throu'gh.an Associafiion.of
Bay Area'Governments SEP grant for residential retrofitting.and $2;537,000 to the County of
Sonom"a through a SEP grant formunicipal financing-initiatives; final approval is anticipated shortly;
Additional funding may also be.available through the American Clean Energy and Security Act
currently in Congress.
Sonoma County Retrofit/Renewables Prol;ram: Using funds-from their EECBG grants, the: County o€
Sonoma and the cities. of Santa Rosa; Rohnert Park;.and.Pi=_taluma are underwriting`a countywide
- - ;. .. -
retrofit/renewables program for market transformation. Set'to launch in Tune 201'0; tfie program
wilj provide orie-stop"access to, the resources residential/commercial propertyowners need'to
complete an energy retrofit and solar installation including,energy :analysisand:project:planning,
certified solar and energy efficiency vendors,; and a :financing package including.SCEIP, rebates,
incentives; and other applicable funding resources. -
Market Barriers
WFiile local efforts to promote solar power and energy efficiency will benefit fromthe above' mentioned
programs for local coordination, financing;..and market transformation, the:marketplace still faces a ,
series of parriers that'local government can influence, including:
Different permitting'and'building code/inspection programs in each jurisdiction;
• Hardcopy processing of solar/efficiency permitting, paperwork, which requires vendors to drive
paperwork to multiple offices per project; -
• Different zoning ordina"nces and general plan regulations regarding solar and efficiency in each
jurisdiction;
.• Varying levels of training for government staff; elected officials; and vendors regardingsolar and
efficiency technoliigies and'. code compliance in each jurisdiction; •
• Different systems and locations for posting Requests for Bid,for solar and efficiency projects i:n each
jurisdiction;
27 The Sonoma County RegionaLClimate Protection Authority participated in astatewide proposal for the=Ramp.Up Program
that could bring an additional $1,650;000 for local residential retrofitting.. -
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County .
o . ;Need'for improved communication and coordination between government: building officials and
solar/efficiency vendors to reduce project processing time/cost and support high-.quality, cost-
effective projects;
• Need foi- innovative methods to finance cost-effective solar and efficiency projects for municipal and
private buildings;
• Lack of awareness about, and identification of opportunities to use, passive solar design concepts;
• Lack of consumer understanding about the economic and environmental benefits of solar power
and energy'efficiency,anct'
• Consumer hesitance about solar thermal technologies basedion~the1970s boom/bust cycle in .which
installations of early solart4~ermal systems were not sufficiently supported by installer expertise and
maintenance services.
In addition, local governments currently#ace internal barriers:caused:by revenue shortfalls and staff
downsizing. The solar power-and energy efficiency strategies outlined' below, are designed to minimize
the demand on government funding/staff time and capitalize on the4.resources•of existing market
transformation efforts. In additions the.SlP includes additional long-term strategies (see Appendix 2:
Addition SIP Recommendations) in anticipation of improved fiscal coriditions in the future
Strategies and Actions
Policies/Regulations
1-Regional Standards
Local~governments can influence the market for solar power and energy.efficiency. atseveral levels from
project,permittinganct code.compliance inspections, to municipal green building codes and zoning
regulations, to General Plan strafegies for.long-term implementation of clean power and GHG-reducing
goals. Within each of these levels there are opportunities for removing: market barriers and encouraging
solar and efficiency improvements.
MarkeiplaceNeed: In#he.current situation, each jurisdiction maintains its own criteria for these..
building'and planning processes and vendors must adjust their process for obtaining permits, complying
with codes, and finding loeaf incentives for solar and efficiency projects to accommodate different rules
between jurisdictions.
Regulatory fVeed: In response to AB32 and S6375,Z$tities and counties are formulating strategies for
GHG reduction as a part of short-term and long-term planning for both municipal operations and the
community as a whole..As a reasonable mitigation for climate_change under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the California Attorney General's office recommends development of
a climate action plan andstates that a climate action plan (CAP) should be,prepared at the same time as
28 Senate Bill 375, http://www:calaga.ocs/attachments/wysiwy~/5360/s6375final.pdf
Solar !r»plementation "Plan
Solar Sonoma Lounty
the General:Plan update and be included iFi the: associated<CECIA-required ~EnvironmentaF Impact Report
(EIR).29 '
Recognizing the current lack of'legislaiive or other direction orrthe content of CAPS andahe need to.
establish criteria that would'allow CAPsto be used in~CECtA cumulative impacts.analysis;thc-State;has>
developed. new CEC1A guidelines for climate change'mitigation.3°Sincc 2001, all 10 Iocal~goVerhments in
Sonoma'Countyhave participated in a climate.protection initiative facilitated tiy'the Climate Protection
Campaign~(CPC) using the ICLEI -Local Governments for'Sustainability pl•ogram.31 Through this
initiative municipal GHG~~targets and CAPS were developed; in 2005, a. community-wide GHG target was
set (i.e., 25' percent~below 1990 GHG emissions. ,levels by 20_T5); and in 2008 the CgmmunityClimate
Action Plan was. published by the CPC that. includes~a comprehensive emissions analysis~and roster of
potential solution stra..tegies/approaches:,(iocludingGHG. reduction estimates, pactperagencies, and
investment estimations)'to reach the local GHG°target.3r
In the current context: of new CEQA guidelines and EIR requirements as welL•as the esfablishmentrof-the
Sonoma County Regional.Climate Protection Authority (RCPA), the logical forum for` a. discussion of
opportunities for regional standards,c.ollaboration exists;through the RCPA and in the Sonoma. County
Planning Directors IVlonthly Meeting, facilifatinga discussion of (1) nevv requirements,. (2) goals. ,and
objectives related to: land use planning and .transportation identified by the RCPA~and `its member
governments, (3) the science-based research, analysis;. and' proposed solutions contained. in the
Community Climate Action Plan, (4) new solutionatrategies and (5) use of guidelines and planning
principles contained in resource documents such as Model Policies for Greenhouse Gases in~,Gerier6l
Plans issued by therCalifornia Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA).33
29 California Attorney General's Office, "Clim,ate Change, the California Environmental Quality Act, and General Plan Updates
FAQ'' f5ttg://a~.ca:~ov/~lobalwarmiri~/pdf/CEOA GP' FAQs.pdf
3o California Environmental CZuality'Act-guidelines update; http://ceres.ca.~ov/cega/guidelines/
3i ICLEI, http:%/www.icleiusa.or~/
sz Community Climate Action Plan, published`in 2008; the CCAP contains science-based emissions analysis:and thiify-nine
quantified GHG reductionaolutionssupported 6y detailed, research. The plan and 500-pages ofsuppohting research are .
available at www.coolplari.org
3s CAPCOA N1ode1 Policies for Greenhouse Ggses in GeneraFi?Ibns,
http¢%/.wwwscapeoa.org/modelpolicies/CAPCOA%20Model%20Policies%20for%20Greenhouse%20Gases%20in%20General%20P
Ions%20-%20Jurie%202009.pdf -
Solar Implementation Plan.
Solar Sonoma County
,.
The following°,table shows opportunities for. regignal collaboration on standards That affect solar and
efficiency projects.
•. Tabled: Regional Standards Summary
Regulation(s)" - • ,Benefit's Convenmg
AEritity e 'Stakeholders -
: _
,y
Less pro.cessing;,4me (government
staff and vendors)
• Streamlined documentation Redwood Empire Association
Standardized Permit Building officials/staff
Forms/ Code Permit fee and processing of Code Officials
Fire officials
Compliance incentive;options
Solat vendors"
Procedures Eliminate vendoraime rieeded to
' Sonoma Eounty Regional
n as
Efficiency vendors
track differerit
jurisdietion Authority
Climate Protectio
permitting"requirements •
• Uniform ri'sk`assessment.protocols •
Uniform besf practices.
Reduce code development cost
Address new~construction and Redwood Empire;Association
Building officials/staff
of Code Officials
remodeling Fire officials
Green Building Codes
Easier ta;adopt `new code
Solar vendors
improvements Sonoma County Regional
Efficiency vendors
Climate ProtectionAufhority
Elimihate'veridortimc needed to
track~differentjui-isdiction codes
Create opportunities to!encourage
solar/efficiency application of land Elected officials
Zoning Ordinances use olic ,
P Y Sonoma Couhty;
-
Government planners
Create incentives for Planning Directors
~
Citizens (property owners)
solar/efficiency Monthly IVleeting
Establish' prorities:forlong-term
implemertatiorr of solar/efficiency Elected officials
Sonoma County Regional
General Plans Coordinate with regional
Climate Protection Authority Government planners
transportation and, air quality Citizens (property owners)
authorities.
I,A -Permitting and Code Corimpliance
Market Barrier: Solar°and efficiency'vendors report that the.current.permitting situation (e.g.,,different
forms.and feesfoceach municipality, unpredictable, processing times] presentsa barrier to cost-
effectiv,e:service because vendors must spend time-trackng.and conforming to different permitting_and'.
code`compliance tales for"each co_ mmunify~in which they'work and.coping with decays in permit
processing. In addtion,,the current•reliance on hardcopy processing of permits•and,code compliance
documents requires,vendorf'ime to hand-deliver paperwork to building department offices.
Recommendation: Standardize and streamline permitting/building code compliance processes, work
with contractors fo. ensure timely processing of permit applications,, digitize formsao reduce the amount
of time required to prepare the forms and process applications, and instifufe incentives for
sa Includes so{arelectrc<and solar,hot water professionals.
ss Includes-building performance cohtradors, heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC_ )'vendors, plumbing and,.electrical
professionals.
10
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
solarJefficiency projects.: Specific issues for regional consideration.are:iregionalpermifting forms for
large solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, and energy efficiency measures; incentive options
such as reduced/waived permit, plan, and;design °review fees;. basing fees on the hoarly rate~for actual
time spent on-the, project, and expedited, permitting; standardized building code compliance
requirements; and obtaining widespread "use of'regional forms and "processesamong building officials
and solar/efficiency vendors.
Benefits: Standardizing andstreamlining permitting/code compliance processes and implementing
incentives on a ,regional scale offerseveral"benefits, including:
Less.T,ime~and Lower Fees: Using standardized forms, building code-officials can minimize or
eliminate the:time required to translate custgri yerdordocumentation into criteria required;for
approval. Standardized,for,ms could also eliminate.the need'for:plan review in many cases,;which
reduces one element of permit cost, :and reduces staff time.~ln addition; creating an: online digitized
.permitting.. process would reduce vendor costs in time~and money to-hand deliver paperwork;to
building department offices.
• ;Reduced'Bid'and Job'Costs: Coordinating;~permitting fees across jurisdictions would simplifyahe
vendor.bidding process and~reduce time;requi "red to crack and incorporate variations 'infee
structures.
Uniform Risk Evaluation: The process of .establishing standardized permitting~fo_rms would enable:
building`officials~to confer and' obtain: regional consensus on mitigating soar-and efficiency-specific
risk factors such as-.fire venting and solar mounting safety.
Resources: Three local enf'ities are suited to erve: as co=facilitators fo establish,regional permitting arid
code compliance processes: Redwood EmpireAssociation of Code Officials (REACO),36 the Sonoma
County'Regiona(Cli .mate Protect"ion Auth:orit_y'(RCPA);:and Solar Sonoma County.'In addition, the
collaborationwould benefit from the participation by representativesof the`localsolar electric/thermal
a"rid building performance industries via trade groups such as California Solar Energy Lndustries
Association,37 North Coast Builders Exchange,38 and'Califorria Building. Performance Contractors
Association.39
Case Studies:
Forms: in 2009, Steve Pantazes; Buildi"rig Official for the Town of Windsor and Solar Sonoma County
Advisory Board-member, led an effort to de"sign a regionalaolar system permit application form with
in ut from tFie five=counf " Red°
p " y wood Empire.Association of Code Officials. (REACQ). The form,whieh
addresses. residential solar systems of'S kW or., less; tics been distributed to local building;
departments. Pantazes reports that.bgtli buldng,officials are at varying stages..and solar vendors
se Redwood'Empire Association of Code Officials, Http://www;reaco.or~/
37 California Solar Energy Iridust~ies'Association, hfti://calseia.or>;/
38 North.Coast Builde~s'Exchange, h'ttp://www:nc6eonline.com/
se California Building Performance Contractors Association; http://www.cboca.or~/
'11
Solar°ImplemenCation Plan.
Solar Sonoma County
are inconsistent in adopting the~for.m. due to collateral challenges such as severely reduced building
department staffing in local jurisdictions and the need'for further education and training,in using the
form for building department staff and vendors. Solar Sonoma County also hosted a Solar Permitting
Symposium on November 10, 2009, to discuss regional permitting~standards that included building
officials and solarwendors. SSC is also. initiating quarterly forums to facilitate ongoing building
official-vendor/contractor collaboration..
® Expedited Processing: Solar'Sgnoma County's~_Solar America Cities partner, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
is incorporating accelerated p"roject permitting, reduced' permit fees,. and'"feebates° into solar
.projects to encourage ad'option.: Porfland,.Oregon, has instituted an elect"ronie permit submittal
process in which the application is.reviewed within 24 hours by "a staff~member trained in solar.ao
Sacramento; California; has"developed a checklist for residential solar based on a universal
application prepared. by Sacramento IVlunicipal Utilities Department.(SMUD). ai
Incentives: The U.S. Department~of'Energy`s Energy Efficiency~and;Renewable Energy (EERE) '
program's Database of State lricentivesfor Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRESOLAR) recommends
incentives such as a flat=fee permit structure or waiving permit'feesand fast-tracking permitting for
solar projects.42 In addition, LherDSIRfSOLAR Notes that, for. commercial,properties, flat-fees based
on actual permit processing costs:are about 10 percent the cost'of_ a~waluation-calculated fee based
on the overall project cost; Among jurisdictions that have vvaived''solar. permitting fees are Los
Angeles, Santa.lVlonica, arid the'counties of San Diego and San Bernardino. In addition, the City of
SanJose does not collect~bu'ilding permit taxes on construcfionxorinstallation of-solar energy
generation equipment. Builders.in th,e County of San,Bernardino:whgpamicipate in the County's
green building program receive...accelerated plan review, priority inspection"s, design assistance, and
community recognition, for qualfie'd'projects. The City of,M_ill Valley waives select building permit
fees for solar system installations.thatmeetfive City guidelines and corriply with City regulations for
the zoning district in which the9installation is locateda3 .~
Constraints: While the regionalsolarapplcationform developed by'Pantazesand REACO has improved
consistency,among participating jurisdictions, several barriers still Tema'inrincluding (1') budget-related
downsizing in building deparfinents;,which affects processing-time; (2),rieed.forguidancefrom elected
leaders regarding the priority status, of'regonel permittingfcode complianc_e_ efforts, and (3j need for
better°mutual understanding between,building•officials and'vendors aboutsolar and efficiency project
permitting,,code compliance;. and ,implementation methods.
flasks: Convene and°facilitate;'a discussion of`permitting and code compliance"opportunities through.
existing venues provided bythe Redwood' Empire Association of Code Officials, Solar'-Sonoma County,
and Sonoma .County~Regional Climate Protection Authority, determine a~strategy for identifying
a° Portland,.O[egon, online permittingservice:,'http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfni?c=47394
ai Sacramento, California; permitting,process update:-
http://Sacramento:biiiournals:com/Sacramento/stories/2009/10/26/story4.html?ana`fcom rss#
az "Permitting Incentives," D,SIR,ESOLAR; http;//www.dsireusa.ors/solar/solarpolicyguide/index:cfm?id=16&printab{e=1
as "city Polcy,Regatding Fee Waivers for Solarfnergy Systems," November 22,-2005,
httpc//www.eo:marin.ca.us/degts/CD/main/pdf/BEST pdf/solar/MiIlVallev FeeFlver.pdf -
12
Solar Implementation Plan ~ -
Solar Sonoma County
appropriate regional protocols, andseek local approval for a regional proposal. Bring recommendations
to local govecning.bodes as app"ropriate.
1.B - Greeri,Bulding Programs
Market Barrier:IVine of the 101ocal~~ overnments in Sonoma Count have ado '
g y pted green':building.codes,
using primarily the Build It Green program for residential and Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design'.(LEED),progcamtor commercial buildings. The majority of these gceen,buildings codesare
rriandatory for new: construction, th ree, include protocols for- renovation; projects; and, the point
requirements and~allocations differ befween jurisdictions. The-fa"ct that the specifics;and scope~ofthe
codes vary from community tg community requires solar and.efficiency`vendorsao spendtme tracking
and conforming,to the;specifi¢ programs for each community in. which they work. In.addition, smaller
communities faces barrierto implementing more rigorous codes because theylack resources to
develop them. .
Recommendation:.Create.a regional.green-building program'irr,orderto (1) share'lessons learned'..by
each community including the effect-of green.building.ordinances (GBOs) on the marketplace'and'cost-
effective administration.methods, (2) ensure every community has a-green boil"ding program; (3) apply
GBO standards to existing;buildingsby including renovation requirements; :and (4) minimize market
~.
barriers-to efficient processing of nevv and'remodel~green building projects.. .~ .
Benefits: Standardizng,gr.een building programs on a ,regional scale offersseveral benefits, including;.
..
® Less Time: A regional green building`pcogram would minimize the"time required by vendors to track
program protocols and customize proj'eet documentation to different requirements.
o 'Timely Cost=Effective Adoption of Prol7ram Updates: A regional~green building,program would
pro~,ide af:eentraa system; for evaluating new opportunities in green.. building protocols.and
technologies~and facilitate the timely and cost-effective adoption of nevv best practices:aa_
Support Future :GHGi Reduction: Requirements:,A• regional green .building. program would,position
local governments to,respond'in:atim~ly cost-effective manner todirectiVes.from State and Federal
governments.regarding;GHG r..eduetion'(e g.,,California;Assembly Bill 32 hatmardates an GWG
reduction#o 1990'I'evels :by 202Q), and explore more-stringent remodelingtriggers~to extend'greerr
building standards+and energy analysis'to existingbuildings45
Resources: Three local entities are;suitedto serve a"s co-facilitators to establish a regional green,building
program: Redwvood Empire Association of'Co.de Officials(REACO); the Sonoma County Regional Climate
Protection Aufh"ority(RCPA);~and theSon.oma County.Planning Directors IVlonthly Meeting:
44 TheSolar,America Cities partner. Sacramento is~,pceparing~guideiines for-implementing sour imhistorisal.distriets and urban
tree canopy and' building height regulations to protect,access'tosunlight exposure:for solar~systems. The;City.ofCotati-ce_quir_es
"all new construction'to;pre-,.plumb forsolar hot;water: ,
45 Local examples of mandatory,remodeling triggers include Cotati (commercial:o8er2,5Q0 sf), Healdsburg:(residential over?500
sf), Setiastopob (commercial over 1,800 sf), and Marin County (residential over 1,OOb sf) '
`13
Soler Implementation Plan
.Solar Sonoma County
fiaseStudies/:Additional,Resources: CALGREEN: On January 12; 2010fihe California Building Standards
Commission unanimously adopted the first=in-the-nation mandatory Green. Building-:Code (CALGREEN)
for.`nevv liiildings that requires increases. in energy and'water efficiency to assist in meetingthe State's
greenhouse gas reduction'goals: achieve~;a 33 percent renewable energy capacity by 2020; reduce GHG
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; and achieve 80 percent. reductiori;below 1990 levels by 2050. The
"mandatory program goes'into effect on January 1,.2011, and includes additional, more stringent
voluntary requirements to encourage deeper GHG reductions. It is intended`to provide a baseline "plug-
and-play° above-Title 24 code program..The program contains renewable energy guidelines, such as
south-facing building orientation for solar exposure, installation of solar electric and solar thermal
systems; and roof space and pre=wiring for future solar:
Constraints: Developing a~regiona'I.green building program'will. require staff time and the willingness to
change or update existing green building program parameters to a;chieve'a regional consensus.
Tasks: The Redwood Empire Association of Code Officials iscurre.ntly reviewing the new State code
provisions to identify gpportunities.to create a model code for regional adoption and is looking for input
from community partners such as the Sonoma County Planning Directors IVlonthly Meeting, Sonoma
County Regional Climate Rrotection Authority and other interested-partiesao identify appropriate
strategies #or achieving regional consistency in local green building codes- and sharing of best practices.
1.C -Zoning Ordinances
Market Barrier: Zoning ordinances offer an opportunity to explore additional options for increasing solar
and efficiency through regulatory streamlining and incentive opportunities.
Recommendation: Identify and implement options within zoning measures to encourage and support
solar and efficiency. Some potential zoning options would be:
® Solar Enhancement Zone: Based on the model of the enterprise zone, a Solar Enhancement Zone
(SEZ).would offer property owners within its 6oundari'es a suite of'incentives for new and existing
building solar installations and energy efficiency retrofits, such as'free permitting, fast-track permit
processing, or high density bonus.
® Infill Projects: The SEZ could also apply to infill projects across multiple zones.
® Solar Options: The SEZ requirement,might require the nevv construction-owner to implement at
least. one oftfiree,solar$ptions; solar electric, solar thermal; or;passivesolardcsign or offer a
density:bonus to developers who pre-wire/pre-plumb for solar electric and solar thermal or include
preinstalled systems.
Benefits: Identifying zoning opportunities for solar/efficiency would support benefits such as:
® Integration of Solar Energy Generation into Land Use Planning: Focusing on opportunities available
through zoning ordinances would support and inform the long-term General Plan effort to capture
.maximum solar energy generation capacity to minimize fossil-fuel use and peak demand load, while
creating immediate incentives for solar and energy efficiency improvements in the short-term.
14
Solar Implementation Pldn
Solar Sonoma County
Resources: The Sonoma'County Permit and Resource Management Department (P.RMD) will be
investigating code updates_fornew construction to create incentives for solar~installations as part of a
code review to identify greenhouse gas.reduction opportunities in zoning and general plan updates; this
effort is funded by the County's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant,program,(EECBGj. ..
Case Studies: The;City of Sonoma has pioneered a variation on the solar enhancement zone concept
with two programs: Solar Energy Business Loan and Energy Efficiency Matching; Funds programs, which
provide a local.example of how incentivesforaolarahd efficiency, projects might be tied to~zoning.
Applicable to businesses with the City's redevelopment zones, the Solar Energy Business Loan Program
provides a maximum loan amount~of$50,000 at 3 percent interest for owners of existing corrmeccial
proper[ies whoare installing;solarelectr.ic'orsolarthermal systems. The Energy;Efficiency Matching
Funds Rrogram providesa maximum $'1,000' dollar-for=dollar matching=fund loan fora, range of .
efficiency improvements including lighting retrofits; insulatiop installation, weatherization measures,
energy management.systems, and; HVAC system upgrades;;theaoan is forgivable after a year,upori
verification that the efficiency measures are installed and maintained.ae.
Constraints: The current~economic recession. has limited the resoucces,and staff available to explore
new planningstrateg'ies;however, regional collaboration on this issue could minimize the cost to
individual governments and result in regional approaches that streamline processes and encourage the
implementation of-.best practices.
Tasks: Convene discussion of'zoning opportunities tlro,ugh the already scheduled Sonoma County
Planning Directors~IVlonthiy IVleeting--code update process and share identified strategies andconcepts
vvifh local government planning departments for early adoption.
LD: -.General Plans
Background: As the means. py which communities set_local priorities and define long,ferm.goals,;
General;P. laps offer multiple opportunities to support the widespread adoption of solar electric, solar
thermal, arid energy efficiency. General Plans are also emerging as an impoctant;tool in regional
plariningto meet IocaL:and State~GHG~reducfion targets..Iri 2'005, Governor Schwarzeneggerset'a
precedent by sigrii'ng,Executive Order 5-3-05, vvhich establishes a series of long-term GHG reduction
targets for State agencies.a' In 2006, AssemblyBill'32 (Global Warming Solufions Act) established a GHG
target to reduce total statewide emissions-to 1990 levelsby 2020 and assigned the California Air
Resources Board with the task to set regional targets and strategies`in a Scoping.P.lan.48 In addition,
Senate Bill 375 (2008) established additional directiorrto loca)`government on land use~.planning for GHG
as City of Sonoma's'Solar Energy Business Loan Program
(hftp://wwwaonomacity:o~~/uploads/Econ%20Devel/CDA%20Guideliries%20Nov08Solar.pdf); Energy Efficiency Matching
funds Program(http://wwwaonomacity.or~/uploads//Econ%20Devel/CDA Guidelines Oet08Ene~~y:pdf)
a' Executive Order 5=3-05 requiresStateagencies to achieve 2000 GHG emissidn levels by 2010, 1990-GHG. emission levels,by
2020, and 80 percent below 2990 GHG emission levels by 2050.
as Climate Change Scoping Plan: A frameworkfor Change; California'Air Resources Board, December 2008;
http://v/ww.arb:ca:~ov/cc/scopirii?iilan/document/adopted scoping plan.pdf
15
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
reduction.49 Lndune:2009, the.California Air Polhition Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) published
Model Policies for Greenhouse Gdses in General Plaris 50 which provides resources and guidance. orr
incorporating GHG reductiorrgoals into theGeneral Plan process.: In~its report, CAPGOA emphasizes the
importance of coordinating General P-Ian updates with regional planriing tools such as regional
"blueprint plans" (i:e:, compendium of`local government recommendations on land use and transporta-
fion provided to regional transportation/,metropolitan planningsentities), regional transportation plans,
and air quality district attainment plans. The above initiatives highlight the growing. importance of the
General Plan process in capturing th,e GHG-reducing potential of'renewable energy and energy
efficiency and as a conduit for regional coordination.
Recommendation: Local govecnmerits can engage RCPA and; NGOs input and support to enhance local
General Plans through the inclusion°of;best practices and forward-thinking policies for renewable energy
and energy efficiency. This will allow local governments to maximize opportunities for realizing a
sustainable, clean-energy community and achieving compliance with State and local GHG reduction
goals.
Benefits: Updating General Plans for~renewable energy and energy efficiency provisions provide a
variety of benefits, including:
• State and IocaI.GHG reductiori'complianee: General Plan provisions can~expand opportunities for
GHG.. reductionthrough measures such as designation of and protection for sites suited to
renewable energy generation and flexible zoning to allow use of open space for renewable energy
projects.
® Expansion of new construction markets for renewable enemy and enemy efficiency: General Plan
provisions for new constriietion can set the long-term vision for green building and renewable
energy regulations that capture maximum cost=effectiveness through. the integration of solar energy
generation, passive solar, and effieiencyfeatures during the: project. design phase.
• Optimize >;reen btiildinl; standards> Establish preferred priority sfatus for green building policy that
exceeds State requirements and incorporates emerging best practices such as "solar-ready"
standards and passive solar requirements for new buildings.
'• Identify and remove prolect.processin~ barriers: General Plan provisions can establish protocols for
streamlining processing procedures for new and.existing building projects for renewable energy and
energy efficiency.
Resources: The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) and the Sonoma County
Planning Directors Monthly Meeting are likely resources for convening a regional discussion on climate
49 California Senate Bil1:375 (2008) directs+the California Air Resources Board to set regional. reduction-targets for
transportation-related GHG emissions and focus on opportunities for GHG reduction through "sustainable community
strategies" for land-use planning:.
so Lee, Barbara, and.Yu, John. 2009. Model Policies forGreenhouse Gases in General Plans, California Air Pollution Control
Officers Association (CAPCOA); http://www.capcoa.ore/modeloolicies/CAPCOA-ModelPolicies-6-12-09-915am.pdf
16
Solar lmplementation Plan
.Solar SonomaCounty
protection strategies for general plan updates. In addition, the new Attorney General; rules regarding the
State's new CEO,A-and EIR requirements for~climaie action plans (CARs)51 coupled With the local regional
approach, as evidenced by the:founding of the RCPA, and the existing couhtywide.Comrr-unity.Glimate
Action Plan; offer,an unique opportunity to use the updating of the. regiohaf climatea,ction plan as a
means to coordinate strategiesfor general plans-and zonirig.~Additiohal resources include the California
Air Resources Board's (`A'RB) Local Government Toolkit,sZ and the ARB Local Actions for Climate Change
Webstea3 '
Case Studies:
The Marin County Sustai'nability Program. received the National. Planning Excellence..Avyard for-
Implementation in 2008 from the American _Planning Association for its ground-breakingstraYegies
for GHG redu.ctiona4 The County's progressive strategies for clean energy and GHG reduction are_
incorporated in its,General Plan (i.e. Marin Countywide Plan), which includes features such as
expedited permitting and fee waivers for- projects that exceed state and local.building stahdards;
solar installations that meet 75 per=cent.of the project energy needs, and projects that meet,green
building cheeklist.requirements; technical assistance; green building resource,libra_ry;.trairingsfo.r
staff, building profession.als,.and thepublic;and coordination with other rnuriicipalities.ss
In June 2009; the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) ppblish'ed`Mgdel
Polici'es.forGreenh'ouse Gases in GeneradPlons,'~which provides recommendations'on General Plan
options for clean energy<and GHG reduction gleaned from a survey of best practices;in a,variety of
jurisdictions. The report provides background on environmental and legislative conditiohs,ahd a list
of General Plan element and provision examples:for local government consideration.
Constraints: The curreht economic recess.ion, has limited the "resources and -staff aVailable'fo explore. ,
hew planning strategies; however, regional collaboration on this issue could minimize.th'e'cost to
individual goverrimehts and result. in regional appr.oaehes that affect the full.greenhouse gas.emissions
picture (e.g., transportation,. electricity/natural gas use, vvater efficiency) and .implement consistent. best
practices.
Tasks: Convene discussion of General Plan opportunities through the already scheduled Sonoma County
Planning Directors Monthly Meeting code update process and coordinate with discussion regarding
updating the countywide climate action plan for CEO,A-compliance and local government adopfori.
si Amended CEOA guidelines, effective March 18, 2010,.
http://ceres.ca.~oV/eega/does/Adopted and Transmitted Text of 5697 CEC1A Guidelines Amendments.pdf
sz Cal'ifornia Air Resoutces:Board, LocaCGovernment Toolkit,.httpa/Lwww.coolcalifornia.ora/local=government
sa Galifornia,Air Resources,Board;,local Actions for Climate Change Website, .
http://www.arb.ca:Gov/cc/localaction/localaction.htm
54 YouTube video on Marin County Sustainability.Program:,http://www:youtube:eom/watch?v=39XOb53forM&featiare=user
ss Marin Countywide Plan,,http;//wWw.co.marin.ca.ias/degts/CD/main/comdev/ADVANCE/CWP/INDEX.cfm -
17
Solar Implementation;P1an'
Solar Sonoma County
Financing/Incentives
2 =Redevelopment, Community Development, and Enterprise Funds
and Energy Service Company Option-
IVlarket Barrier: For public and private p-roperty_ovyners;ahe cost'of~solai and energy efficiency
improvements is frequentlythe most significant barrier to taking action: Rebates and tax benefits
reduce the overall cost and financing ahese efforts spreads the cost over time.
.Recommendation: Identify local goyernment::community development/redevelopment funds as well as
public.,utility (water, sewer and waste management) enterprise funds to underwrite solar and energy
efficiency projects and identify opportunities to use the Energy Service~Company (ESCo) model in which
an ESCo develops, installs and monitors, and provides financing:for municipal projects, and assumes the
risk that the energy savingsand reduced maintenance°costs will be sufficient to repay the capital
improvement financing.se
Benefits: The benefits of additional funding sources include:
• Public and private property improvements: Redevelopment Agencies can use their funding sources
for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for both public and private properties. ESCo can
also be used for public.and,private properties.
• Not General Fund money: The use of Redevelopment, Community Development, and enterprise
funds does not affect local government General Funds, which are severely limited by current
economic conditions. ESCos also allow governments to finance projects without using General Fund
,money.
Funds. produce enemy cost savings: Enterprise funds and ESCo vendors can be used for projects that
provide solar energy sources foi- th"eir operations and improve efficiency; .resulting in energy cost
savings and stabilizing future energy costs.
Resources: Community development/redevelopment agency and enterprise.fundsfor solar and energy
efficiency projects are available to 4ocal governments. Redevelopment Agencies ca_n-use property tax
increment revenues and Tax Allocation Bond proceeds for public and private. projects within designated
redevelopment,zonessnd affordable. housing projects within jurisdictional-boundaries. Enterprise funds -
come;from user fees for services like water, sewer, and waste management. Projects that:maiptain or
improve these services can use enterprise funds or revenue bonds guaranteed by these user fees. ESCo
financing is typically used b_y`municipal agencies and districts and is dependent on swell-designed
project scope to yield energy savings'equal to or larger than the financing costs.
se National Association of Energy Service Companies: http://www.naesco.org/resources/esco.htm
18
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Background/Case Studies:.
`The. City of Sonoma used their Community Development Agency as asource of funding for its Solar
.Energy Business Loan. Pi-ogram,s' which provides commercial property ovynerswithin their
redevelopment.district a loan ,of up to $50,000~for the installation of a solar electric system; and its
Energy Efficiency Matching Funds. Prog~am;s$~wh'ich provides business and.commercial property
owners with up to $1,000 dollar-for,dollar.~matching grant for efficiency.improvements such as
lighting upgrades, insulation, weatherization; energy management systems, and FiVAC upgrades.
The City.of Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) use their enterprise funds-for
aolar and energy efficiency projects..The City of Santa Rosa Utilities Department began.
implementing solar•energy.in 2004 at=the. Laguna:Treatment Plant with a 21kV1/ solar'panel system..
This array generates approximately 33,400 kV1Th of energy annually that helps offset th_etoperational
energy use-of the plant. The Sonoma County Water Agency has installed energy:efficiency .
improvements including windowfilmapplication and lighting retrofits..The window film application
- ...
.has a lifetime of 15 years and saves SCWA approximately 30,000 kWh annually. More ;than 600
lighting fixtures were:. retrofitted and provides SCWA approximately 62;000 kW,h in annual savings.
The City'of°Sebastopol used water and sewer enterprise funds to finance solar projects that served
the wastewater collection. system and water distribution system. In addition, Redevelopment.
Project Funds were used to finance a portion of..the installation cost forsolai- on the Police, Station
and Redevelopment.Affordable Housing Funds were used to finance the installation of solar on two
affor`dable.housing projects, totaling 65 housing units.
The;County of Sonoma the Energy Senlice Company model to implement is Comprehensive Energy
,..
Project (CEP), which is a component of the. County's. municipal Climate. Protection Action Plan.: The
CEP is being implemented as a design/build project under the authority of Government Code
Section 4217.10:et. seq„ which allows public agencies to award energy saving,projectsto Energy
Services Companies (ESCo) on the basis ofiexperienee; type of technology employed, cost, or other
relevant considerations.-The CEP includes iigliting,; retrofits for- 20 buildings, repaacemenf or
'reconstruction of,heating; ventilation;:and air=conditioning equipment for four buildings,
.replacement of chillers and other equipment of the Central.Mechanical Plant, water reduction
retrofit of seve"rai large Lounty faclifies, and installation of a 1.4 megawatt fuel cell power
generation .plant with :heat recovery.:
.. ,
Constraints;.Use of RedevelopmentProjeet Funds.r`equir.es that.the location of specific projects be
within the cgm.munity's redevelopment zones. Projectsfunded by Redevelopment Affordable Housing
funds can be located anywhere within:the jurisdiction. An Implementation..Plan.containing specifir;goals
and objectives for redevelopment. projects, and estimated expenditures must be adopted every five
5' City of Sonoma'Solar Energy Business Loan Program,.
http://www.sonomacity:o~g/uploads/Eeon%20Devel/CDA%20Guiclelines%20Nov08Solar: pdf
58 City of. Sonoma Energy Efficiency Matcliing~Funds.Program,
http://wwwaonomacityor~/uploads//Eeon%20Devel/CDA Guidelines: Oct08Ener~v:pdf
19
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
years, In order to use redevelopment funds for energy.efficiency/renewable: energy projects, they must
be'included as a~ com.ponent of the Five=Year Implementation Plan. Uses of enterprise funds are limited
to operations and projects of that enterprise. or utility (e.;g., water, sewer, and airport).
Tasks: In order to use redevelopment funds, language such as, ".programs for energy efficiency
improvements including but.not limited to photovoltaic and,solarthermalsystems, and upgraded utility
systems" should be amended to the Redevelopment Five-Year Implementation Plan at the earliest
opportunity.
Education
3 =Training for Government:Staff/Elected Officials and Solar-/Efficiency Vendors
Market Barrier: Solar power technologies and energy efficiency measures represent the emergence of a
new marketplace for green Services. Along with that new marketplace come technologies and
techniques unique to these industries and their ultimate product:. clean energy. Many of the newest and
_..
most effective innovations in solar and efficiency go beyond State code requirements. Building officials
are increasingly short_staffed and over-worked, yet market-generated technologies/techniques are
growing every day. On the other hand,, solar and efficiency vendors are also pressed to track updates in
State codes that affect their projects., In this accelerated environment,.both vendors and code officials
need support to keep abreastofindustry and code developments and minimize in-field .instruction to
remediete installation problems as theyvvork together to complefe.suceessful projects. Mutual training
opportunities should be pursued whenever possible.
Recommendations:
Government Staff/Elected Officials:,Establish regular opportunities to educate and train municipal staff
and elected officials on energy efficiency and renewable energy:
® Provide ongoing educational programs for government elected"officials on energy polices,
regulations, and funding opportunities.
Train building permit staff in current solar and energy efficiency techniques and regulations so they
can be frontline representatives,for property owners seeking to.remodel, retrofit, or build new.
sfructu res.
Solar/Efficiency Vendors:~Encourageaocal clean energy vendor communities to participate in industry
certification programs that• maxirnize`fhe quality of local service delivery, reduce delays in project
permitting and inspectiortcompletion,avd promote consumer confidence.
• Support and partner with Ipcal-clean energy industry trade groups to encourage widespread vendor
participation in recognized certification programs.
Support local clean energy vendor participation in the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program,
which includes vendor protocols and certification guidelines.
20
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma:County
Co-Training Strategy; Training/certification programs and .industry update workshops provide an
opportunity for building code officials, solar%efficiency vendors, and other building trade professionals
to learn together and share.knowledge.
• Provide co-training o.ppoct'u.nitiesfar building officials and industry vendors to encourage better
understanding of the needs of the: other party, facilitate effective working relationships, reduce hold
ups, and find opportunities to save time and expedite projects.
Benefits: Training and education programs have both immediate and ongoing benefits, including:
• Time-efficient inspection of solar/ener~y efficieney'pcoiects: Building officials will,be aware of
current solar and'efficiency regulations andstechriologies when reviewing projects: Solar and'
efficiency vendors will be aware of new code.: and. project inspection issues and opportunities°to be
proactive.in project implementation.,
Informed assessment of clean eneri;y opportunities: Elected officials can ensure that `solar and
energy efficiency are considered.ih all projects and programs comingto their~attent.on.
Informed constituents' Elected and building official awareness of solar/energy efficiency resources
and corcepts offers additional opportunities for them to share key ideas :and benefits with the
public during the regular`course of business, directly benefiting the entire community'and the
environment. Solar/efficiency vendor awareness of code and inspection issues offers additional
opportunitiesfor them ~to ensure timely project approvals and foster consumer confidence in high
quality project results.
• Maximize emer~ine technologies: Training for government staff and solar/efficiency vendors;in new
technologies and solar/energy-efficiency products ensures that projects use the most. efficient.
approach and-have the greatest 6enef'its: Training in new building code re:quirement5 ensures
solar/efficiency vendors ,can reduce.costs associated. with delays in projectapproval•and permitting
caused by code issues.
Building partnership between building officials and local vendors: When building~officials and
solar/efficiency vendors participate together in training,.courses, relationships are created that help
build trust between these two groups.
Resources: Training opportunitiesforclected officials,:b_uilding officials,,and vendors can be~coordinated
through several. local:entities, including REACO;, RCPA, local governments, and.SolarSonoma County. In
addition, local, state, and national organizations°frequentlyofferlNebinarsand other interact'-based
information and,training, as well as'traditional classroom-based-solar/energy efficiency training
programs, conferences, and workshops.
Case Studies:
• On January 25, 2010, the City of`Santa Rosas Solar~America Cities program, Redwood, Empire
Association of Code Officials (REACO), andthe Interstate Renewable Energy Council(IREG) hosted.a
21
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Solar DomestisThermal-Inspection Course #or code offca'Is and'solar thermal vendors.
Underwritten by a grantfrom the U.S. ,Department of Erie.rgy'sIREC program, the;course provided
an overview of system theory and building; mechanical,,plumbing;;and energy conservation codes.
• Oh November'10,2009, Solar:Sonoma County hosted a-Solar Permitting,Symposiumfgr building
official and solar vendors that.fe.atured presentation5,frombuilding officials on current and future
.regulations, examples of common installation mistakes found during compliance inspections, and
group brainstorm on solutions for~common implementation problems.
• San Jose; California; (a.Solar America:City) hosted a Regional Renewable: E-nergy Permitting
Symposium that attracted :120 building, code; fire, and permitting leaders from 22'Bay~Area cities.
and solar°representatives,to:improve the solar permitting.process.59
Building Officials:and.'Solar/Efficiency Vendors:. There area variety of training,resources for government
..
and industry participants for.residentalgnd commercial_propertes. Ari;mportant cornerstone of the
clean energy-industry is the California Energy Commission's Home Energy Rating System (HERS). for
whole-house raters, which. provides~p_r_.operty owners with a clean energy plan (i.e., energy analysis) that
supports high quality installation of energy efficiency features in .California homes.60 Technical and
building code training is also provided,by the code official associations; solar°industry, building
performance contractor 'ndusfry;'PG&E's Public Goods pPogram; and the Redwood~Empire Association
of Code Officials, which has hosted two regional trainings and is planning additional raining events,61
Indust .ry-specific technical as well as building code training programs and education opportunities are
provided by:
• Solar: CALSEIA is the California Solar Energy Industries Association. It supports the widespread
adoption.of solar thermal and solar electric systems by educat"ing'consumers and supporting solar
legislation. This organization has members that are manufacturers, contractors, utilities, educational
organizations and local governments: ltsgoals include.legislation`~to help achieve an open and. .
competitive,.market, create and/or modify codes, standards`and regulations to promote safety,
reliability, durability, and reduce costs`and improve construction efficiency.6z
Solar: North American Board. gf Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a voluntary board of
renewable energy takeholder representatives from thesolar industry, NABCEP certificants,
renewable energy`-organizations, policy makers, educational groups, and the trades. NABCEP
provides voluntary training/certification programs for s.glar electric and solar thermal to promote
renewable energy, support solarvendors, promote worker safety and skill, and increase consumer
confidence.63
s9 http://www.sanioseca:gov/esd/natural=energy-resources/Renewable EnergySymposiumRe~istration:htm
so www:energy:ca:gov/HERS/index.html
ei For information ofREACO training events, visit: http://www.reaco.org/education:htm
ez www.calseia.org
es http://www.nabcep:org/certification/the-need for-certification
27
Solar Implementation. Pian
Solar Sonoma County
® Solar: The International Brotherhood of ElectricaLVl/orkers (IBEW) has been a strong local supporter
• of solar energy efforts and provides training for installers of solar;enecgy systems and'~is a partner in
Solar Sonorria County.64 .
o HERS:.CaICERTS,;Inc. is.a,private organization,approved.by~the California~Energy Commission to
provide 2008 Title;24, Part 6 Field-Verification:and Diagnostic Testing services and WERS II whole-
~house•energy~analysisservices underthe~forthcoming HERS II program.6s
a HE-RS: The California Home Energy Efficiency Rating"System (CHEERS) has been approved by the
Energy Commission to oversee WERS~Raters providing 2008 Title 24', Part 6:,Feld"Ver`ificafion and
. Diagnostic Testing.seruces'and HERS,ICwhole-house energy analysis services under'fhe.forthcoming
HERS"II pcogram.66
® HERS:~C.aliforna Building. Performance Contractors Association provides training and certification to
HERS raters `2008 Title 24, Part 6 Field Verificatiorrand Diagnostic Testirig,aervices; HERS Il whole-
house energy analysis services under the forthcoming HERS-11 .program, arid home performance
' contractingwith the Building=Performarce Institute's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
program67
,® GreeriPoint Rated:. Build It Green is a non-profit:organzatiom that works to accelerafethe.adoption.
of green building,;practices. Build It Green is the certification body for Certified Green:. Building
Professional and GreenPoint Rated rater p"rogram.68
® Pu61ic;Good Training: PG&E offersa'wide range ofsolar and energy efficiency training opportunities
for different audiences and education levels,;both online and in the "classroom.69
a Building Code Training: Training in.California building codes and code compliance can,be obtained
through the California Association of Building.Energy Consultants (CABEC)70 and California Building
Qfficals ,(CA'LBO).71
Eleeted'Officials: Educational opportunities and V1/ebsites aimed at a hon-technical audience are "'
provided~by several organizations; including:
The US Department of Energy s website for information on energy efficiency arid renewable:
energy technologies.72
o The t1S Environmental Protectiori'~Ageney's Local Climate"and Energy Program.73
~`' www~ibew.or~
6s'vvww.ca leerts.com
66
wwweheers.ore
w www.cboca.org
www:builditereen.or~
69 www:pie;com/mybusiness/edusafety/training
70 htt~s%/www.cabee.or~/edueation:php
71 http://www.calbo.or~/industry pro/default;aspx
rz
•www:eere:ener~y:~ov
23
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
® The Database of State lncentives.for,'Renewable Energy_(DSIRE).74
a The. California-based Center for Energy Efficiency,°and Renewable Technologies (CEERT).75
• Solar Sgnorna County:76
Recognizing that elected leaders have: less need for' detailed training and greater:time constraints;
solar/energy efficiency educational,,opportunities can be most easily used.if they are integrated into
existing opportunities.
Solar Sonoma County provides~~local training and educational workshops..and. events for a range of
pacticipants:_Organizations tfiat.may be able to co-host or provide training venues include:
• Sonoma County Regional"Climate_Pcotection Authority could provide ongoing education targeted to
th,eir~Boar-d of Directors; composed of elected representatives from alf Sonoma. County jurisdictions,
at their monthly.meetings.
• The Mayors 'a"nd Council Members Association has bimonthly meetings and can organize special
study sessions for all County elected officials.
• The Climate Irotection EverVtiody Rrofits Conference, organized', by the Climate Protection
Campaign, is another ideal opportunity to include solar/energy efficiency information aimed at
elected officials.
• The City Managers meeting iskanothet monthly forum where discussion of these issues with senior
governmental managers,is available.
Constraints: An organized system to`notify local government officials andstaff about appropriate
educational and training opportunities~requires~on-going'staff time to set up~and maintain-notification
lists, identify educational and training opportunities, and prepare and distribute the information. Coral
educational and training programs require funding forthe people and other resources to plan and
implement these events.
Tasks:
Identify.a."host organization and ongoing funding for an education and training notification ystem.
The mission, of Solar Sonoma County makes. it a good choice for operating an ed'ucation.and training
notification system as well'as a potential organizer of local events: The Sonoma County Regional
Climate Protection Authoritywould be anideal public agency to coordinate this' project. Utilization
of the City :manager"s group for notification of elected'~officials isalso recommended.
73 www.epa.goy/cleanenerey/ener~y-programs/state-and-local/local.html
74 www:ds+reusa.org
's www.ceert.or~
76 www.solarsonomacountv.or~
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Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
• Set up and maintain ;notificationIists of public officials and building permit staff,withseparate lists
forthe type;of educational or training event; (i,e., policy and funding for elected and/or other policy-
oriented officials, and technical training'for building permit staff).
Track and identify;educational and, raining opportunities,;summarize and post on.a Website.and
distribute the information via e=,updates or aaimlar notificafion system.
Develop and present specific topic workshops and training-events as local training and educational
needs are identified.
4 - Educ"ation for Community
Market Barrier:: Solar and energy efficiency have been part of the commurii#y'discussion since tte';1973
energy crisis that challenged the societal, belief^in the. invincibility of a fossil fuel-based economy and
introduced the benefits of energy conservation and renewable energy sources.. However, it would take
another'three decades;and the emergence i?f climate change to position these technologies-for
widespread implementation. Today local solar-arid efficiencyvendorsar~ still the lead providers of
property.owner education; spending•;significanttlme providing a client with bhe informafion~he/she
needs to, identify project,,goals and benefits and make a sound investment decision." N/hile their effort
is supported by education campaigns sponsored bypartnersauch as PG&E, Sonoma County Energy
Watch; Sonorria'Co'unty'EnergyIndependence Program; and Solar Sonoma County, there is'still~a need to
edueat'e the.commuriity on the. solar/efficiency benefits; -technologies; :and project planning in order to
encourage the,high participation levels needed to,meet local solar energy generation and GHG
reduction goals.
Recommendation: Identifyopportunities foraocal government to (1) support-the use of existing
education channels.or (2) support the creation of:new initiatives to educate citzens4.aboutth~
economic,.environmental;snd community, values. ofaolar electric and thermal ystems aril energy
efficiency upgradesao,encourage property owner participation and reduce GHG emissibns.from
buildings.
Benefits: Providing consi'stenf and comprehensive community education on solar and efficiency will
produce the following,benefits:
~~ • Well-informed property ovvne~s: Property owners: and: renters who understand'the basic science and
economics that-lead to as;uceessful -solar/efficiency project will be better equipped to.id'entify their
project goalsand navigate project implementation.
Create market~de-iiandfor hii;h participation: By°aUowing.the use of its existing commanication.
channels and collaborating on new educafion'initiafives, local°governmenf;~can encourage
responsible implementation of solar and efficiency projects and community interest in solar and
efficiency improvements.
~~ Local vendors report they can spend from one toawo or more hours (depending on the property owner's prior familiarity
with clean,"energy technologies) educating po4entiaf.clientssbout the basic principles.and. benefits ofsol'ar and energy efficiency
upgrades..
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Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
• Increase tax revenue throu>;h solar/efficiency-related economic activity and lob creation: For the
next tvvo to three years (2010 -2012) fed_era`I stimulus funding wlF support job'creation and:GHG
reduction efforts to'initiate a local economic recovery.
CommunityEducation -Build on Existing Education Channels
Recommendation: Use existing educational channels to outreach to the community to increase
installation of energy efficiency and solar energy projects.
Benefits: The benefits of using existing educational resources include:
• Cost-effective: Adding information about energy efficiency and-solar`energy to existing outreach
tools can be accomplished with little or no additional cost.
• Diverse messa~in~ media; Thereare rriany current educational tools; offering a variety of contact
points with the public, increasing'fhe possibility of contacts vvith the public.
• Frequency: Current communications with-the public are frequent, multiplying the likelihood that this
information will be noticed.
Resources: Existing communication tools to provide solar and energy efficiency information to Sonoma
County residents and businesses include:.
• Utility bills (water, energy,,garbage) -Web and/or phone contacf information can be printed
directly on the bill, with more detailed information provided using inserts.
• "Bug ads" -Print bug ads with web contact information on the envelopes used for other agency
business (see. below).
• City newsletters -Many communities send newsletters to residents. Solar and efficiency
information should be regularly highlighted in existing newsletters.
• Tax bills - Web.and/or phone contact information can be printed directly on the bill, with more
detailed information provided using inserts. .
• Building department displays -Educational and literature displays in city, hall and building
department lobbies, libraries, and other public offices.
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Solar Ir~iplementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
• City/County Websites - Provide'linksto the forthcoming V1/eb portal that will~be eo-hosted by
Sonoma County Energy Independence Program and the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables•Pcogram,
which will include a. roster of energy efficiency and-solar information, access to energy analysis
services, roster of efficiency and solar vendors, and access to project financing resources such as
SCEIP, rebates, incenfives, and tax credits.
Demonstrate examples of solar and energy efficiency projects using public buildings or selected
private facilities and publicize with press r"eleases to local newspapers.
Partner with-the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program and SCEIP to circulate solar and
efficiency information.to local organizations to include in their newsletters and onaheir Websites,
including communty•service clubs (e:g., Kwanis, Lions, Rotary, etc.), trade and business
organizations (e;g.; SEIIJ, IBEW,, Teamsters, North Coasf Builders Exchange, Chambers. of Commerce,
Farm.. Bureau, North Bay Association of Realtors, Sonoma County Alliance, GoLocal, et_c.),
environmental organizations (e.g., Climate Protection Campaign, Sierra Club, Sonoma County
:Conservation Council, Sonoma County Conservation Action, Greenbelt Alliance;°Sust'ainable.Sonoma
County, etc.j, and Sonoma County religious organizations.
• Support and partner with the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program and SCEIP to provide a
speakers bureau service for local corrimunity'groupsgroviding presentations to the groiapsauch as
those listed above.
• Provide,government staff in partnership with NGO staff such as SSC to answer questions.about solar
and energy efficiency 6y ta.bling at large publiceventssuch as the County Fair, Farmers Markets;
Santa Rosa .Downtown Market, etc.
• Include Web links to solar and energy efficiency information in government;emails,with notices
about upcoming'meetings.
• •Put Web ink to Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program apd SCEIP as a footer on tall/official
emails.
• Create regular press releases to local newspapers arid magazines (Press Democrat, Business Journal,
The Bohemian, etc.) that highlight different solar and energy efficiency benefits or programs such as
the Sonoma, County Energy Independence. Program, the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program,
Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, and other local education efforts.
• Disseminate education and information through online marketing acid so"cial media communication
channels.
Background/Case Studies: The communication tools:lsfed above, although focused on other
conservation issues; have been used for many years bythe Sonoma County°~1Naste,Maragement
27
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Agency,'$ the Sonoma County Water.Agency,79and the Santa Rosa Utilities Department.80 They have a
wealth of experience in these methods and should be used as a resource.
Constraints: Implementing the above opportunities to update existing communication methods for
community outreach may require some staff time;and additional funding: Coordinating these strategies
through the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority and partnering with existing regional
and nonprofit groups offers opportu~niti'es to minimize funding and staff time demands.
,~
Tasks:. Coordinate with the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Countywide
Retrofit/Renewables Program, SCEIP, and other local groupssuch as Solar Sonoma Countyto identify
the best means for obtaining regional information resources and implementing their dissemination
through existing communication channels.
New Education /nitiatives
Recommendation: Seek new opportunities to expand community education opportunities.
Case Studies: A survey.of'community education, initiatives from-the Solar America Cities program yielded
the following options for consideration; many of these initiatives are implemented through
public/private /nonprofit partnerships:
o Door-to-door nei~hbor-hood education pro>rams: Defined.bji the California Energy Commission as a
Tier-1 initiative under'fhe California Comprehensive Residential Building Retrofit Program, these
programs typically employ entry-level people with limited train,"ing orneighborhood/community
organizations indoor-to-.door campaigns to provide simple energy efficiency measures and
education. They provide immediate;assistance installing compact`fluorescent bulbs, low-flow
showerheads and faucet aerators, and identify appliances that aregood candidates for replacement
with a high efficiency model~ln additiiin, they provide advice on behavioral. measures such as
turning the thermal heater to 120°F, properly operating windows for ventilation, and using shades
to keep heat in during the winter and out during the summer. Examples include:
The Neighborhood Collaboration Program in Denver, Colorado, (a Solar America City) partners
with the Mile High Youth..Corp to provide outreach to low-income households that includes
porch light upgrades, forms to cancel junk mail, a checklist energy audit, and referral to the local
Weatherization Ass.isfence Program provider for eligible households.gl
• In .March 20T0, the City of. Sebastopol and the North Bay ,4ssociaton of Realtors launched a
door-to-door campaign to'provide residences and businesses with information and coupons.for
water and energy conservation measures from PG&E, the Sonoma County Energy Independence
Program, and other resources.
'$ Sonoma County`We'ste Management Agency;'http://www:recycleriow.or~/
79 Sonoma County Water Agency,.http://wwwacwa.ca:aov/index.php
80 City of Santa.Rosa,:http://www,eiaanta=rosa:ca.us/departments/utilities/Pales/default:aspx
gl Denver's Neighborhood Collaborative:'www.srounduvorkdenver:ore%neiehborhood-collaborative.htm
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Solar Implementation Plan
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Tours: of buildings with solar systems-.and efficiency upgrades: Two Solar America Cities (i.e.,
Portland; Oregon, and Seattle; Washington) host annual tours of homes and' businesses that have
installed solar systems and efficiency measures. They participate in the National Solar Tour program,
which provides guidance on how to plan and implement public tours of improved properties for
community-education.$?During the tours,. visitors can speak with the building owner`S.about their
solar system performalice, energy, savings upgrades; use of sustainable principles in building. design,
and green building materials. Solar Oregon; apublic/private partnership based`'in Portland, Oregon,
also coordinates the Oregon Green. and..Solar Tour, a tour program providing 1°3 tours: in five
communfies across Oregon: In addition; Solar Oregon also hosts a Goal Net Zero Tour in May
featuring one green home under~constrtaction,'one.recently built.Net Zero home; and one vintage
home in the early stages of a Net Zero renovation.831n addition, Build It Green, the nonprofit
organization promoting green new construction and. remodeling practices and standards, sponsors a•
BayArea-wide. GreenPoint Showcase Tour featured GreenPoint Rated homes.84
Property owner classes in solar basics: Solar Oregon is anon-profit membership organiza"tion
providing public education and community outreach,to encourage Oregonians to choose solar
energy and a partner with the Oregon Department of Energy~and City of Portland in the Solar'Now
project•85 Solar Oregon offers a five course curriculum for property owners.that includes: Residential
Basics of Going Solar, .Commercial Basics of Going Solar, How to Buy a Solar Electric System, How to
Buy a Solar Thermal System, and Passive Solar Building Design.
• Web portal and GISS6 rnap ofsolar systems:. Eieyen of=the 25 Solar America Cities have or~are in the
process of developing geographical informationis:ystem (G.IS) maps of-their communities tFatshow
where solar systems have been installed and, include'tlie ability to click on :the colored-dot indicating
a solar'installation to view a photo and other information about the project. Solar.Sonoma County,
.the County of Sonoma, and the Sonoma County'Enecgy Independence'Program are. partnering on a
GIS mapping feature similar to the one,proviied. or`r the Sonoma County'Energy Acfion (SCEA) Web
site:$' Local governments can support tfie'counfyvvide prgject.by informing'propertyowners with
retrofit- projects about the opportunity`to participate infhe local GIS map project and support.the
project by providingaconfact information~for property owners with newsolarand energy efficiency
,projects.
• Neighborhood networks The Empowerment Institute sponsors the Cool America. program to
organize education and behavior change at_the neighborhood level. Local governments can partner
with, existing neighborhood associations to sponsor "Carbon Reducing Teams" through efforts such
az The National Solar Tour program is;sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society, a nonprofit dedicated to "inspiring an
era of energy innovation and•speed.the transition to asustainable energyeconomy;" NST anticipates the October 201Q natiorial
tour will host 160,000 visitor`s and. include 5;000 buildings in 3,200 communities nationvvide,
http;//ases:or~/index:php?option=com eontenf&view=article&id=158&Itemid=l6
Solar. Oregon NetZero Tour:,wwwsolaroregon:or~/touts/ROaI-net-zero-home=tour
~' 2009 Green?oint Showcase Tour°nformation: http;//wuvw:builditgreen:org/greenpoint-showcase/
85 Solar Now: htfp¢//wwwaiilarnowore~on.org/about.html
se Geographical information system (GIS)
$' Sonoma County Energy Action:;;wwwaonomacountvener~vaction.ore
2.9
Solar Implementation,Rlgn.
Solar Sonoma County
as-the Cool America program, -which uses the. book, Low Carbon Diet: A 30-Day Program to Lose
5,000 Pounds, as a teaching°tool to help neighbors,for`m ear,bon reducing teams~to earn how to
reduce their energy use and explore renewable•ene"rgy~gerieratibn: The program also includes
resources to host two-to=four-hour Global Warming~Cafe workshops for large-group dialogues about
ways to empower the communityto become part of the climate'protection solution.88 .
Suggestions: The Solar Sonoma. County community also proposed several new ideas:
• Net~zero holiday lights contest:.Sponsoring a "Net Zero Holiday, Lights" or "No Coal in Your Stocking"
contest featuring homes and businesses with holiday displays that use~LED lights, have offset their
display energy use, or ar.e powered by solar generation.
• Clean energy leader awards: Establishing a community Clean Energy Leader Award to recognize
.property owners who have. made. significant reductions in their fossil fuel energy use through
efficiency and solar. Such a program could be countywide with awards granted to the top two-to-
three clean energy. carid'idates from each community. The criteria-foi- selection would be a per.- .
capita clean energy use,('o,r carbon footprint) calculation that wouldaccommodate improvements to
the_ building and occupant behavior. Qn a countywide 6,asis, the;prgperty owner who achieves the
lowest per-capita footprint would i;eceive a special award and'special acknowledgement would go to
his/her community:
® Labeling pro>;ram for retrofittedlsolarized homes: Local governments could collaborate and partner
with the Sonoma CountyRetrofit/Renewables Program: and the Sonoma County Energy
Independence Program to; pro.~ide a Clean Energy signage program that identifies properties in the
community that have undergone aneffciency/solar upgrade. The signs could, where: applicable,
include energy use ratings from HERS' II and GreenPOint Rated:as well as fhe City or County insignia
and be designed to be displayed in a window or on the exterior of fhe building.
Constraints: Because of current economic conditions that limit government resources and staff time,
local governments could partner irrsuch educational projects with local programs such as the Sonoma
County. Energy Independence Program, Countywide Retrofit/Renewables-Program, or Regional Climate
Protection Authority and nonprofits'such as Solar Sonoma County,.Climate Protection Campaign,
Efficiency First, Build It Green; and Redwood Empire Green Building Council.
Tasks: Identifjrappropriate new outreach initiatives; seek'par`tners, identify existing community .
outreach resources that Carr be applied to new initiatives, and seek~approVal of local jurisdictions for
new program concepts. .
$$The CooLAmerica-program~issponsored by the Empowerment Institute, which is dedicated to empowering communities to
achieve measurable behavior change;at the>communityand organizational level,
htto://www.empowermentinstitute.net/Icd/Icd files%Cool America Flier color sm.pdf
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Solar Implementation. Plan
:Solar Sonoma County .
1Vlarket°Transformataon
5 -Clean. Energy Advocate Program .
Market Barrier: Property owners planning to implement,a deep=energy reduction project.combining
efficiency measuYes, water conservation, and solar energy generation are challenged to find an
integrated souree:for,education about the process and available technologies and opportunities, as well
as financing.options: The~time required to research options> talk to vendors and finance~sources, and
determine a projectstrategy can be significant and become a barrier to project completion.
The City of Santa. Rosa. has been awarded a Solar America Cities Special Projects gr.ant~to esta dish a
countywide Clean Energy,Advocate. Program {CEA) that will provide a;n indepe.ndent non-commercial
advocate'to help prgpertyowners navigate the planning and",implementation of deep energy~retrofit
projects, combining energy and'water efficiency and solar:energy generation.89 The:. program ;targets
residential, grid small business property owners. '
The:goals of`the ~CEA program are to (1): provide an. iridependent advocate to educate property~.owners
aboutpcoject planning;:financing; and implementation as well as opportunities to ac.hieve~enei`gy .
savings through occupant behavior, (2) irici`ease tl"e number;of property owners w,ho install;'solar
electri~.and solar thermalsystems,'(3) significantly improve the outcome and experience of'property
ownerswho install solar systems, (4)'increase employment in the renewable energy-.and efficiency
sectors of the. County,:and (5) help local governments and communities meet local and State
greenhouse gas reduction targets. In addition, CEA will also support the Solar-Sonoma County ghat fo
install 25 megawatts of°new solar-generation 6y 2011.
Recommendation::Supportand promote the new countywide Clean Energy Advocate program and`
assist in identification o€ program candidates. '
The CEA program objectives are:
• Educate individual'propertYowners and answer guestionsfrom proieta start to finish.
• Help property owners understand project scope "and loading order choices'to maximize project
results..
• Help. property owners obtain a financine packa>;e that provides optimal cost-effectiveness.
• Help property owners coordinate with market vendors.
® Supportvendor accreditation/certification.
• Support collection. of pre- and post-project enera;y use data fo track iob performance and GHG
reductions-
B9 Interstate Energy:Renewable Council press release on fh'e:City.of Santa Rosa's Clean~Energy'AdvocateiProg~am:
httpc//irecusaorg/2009/11/solar-america-city-Santa-rosas-.clean-ener~v-advocate/ ~ -
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Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma Lounty
• Educate the. publicon efficiency/solarretrofittinR.
Collaborate with the Sonoma CounfV`Ener~y Independence.Pro~ram and the.Countywide
Retrofit/Renewables Program to align market transformation efforts and leverage existing.resotrces
#or property owner benefit.
Benefits: The CEA program is designed to provide the following benefitsto property owners and the
community:
• Promote high levels of clean energy retrofit participation: By providing non-commercial education
about the solar and efficiency retrofit process, the CEA will streamline the property owner education
process, support identification of property owner project goals, and reduce the education
investment required.of ma~i-ket place vendors. In addition; the CEA will support and align with the
community education efforts of the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program.
• The CEA program will be implemented countywide: The CEA model will serve all 10 jurisdictions
within the county and support.consistent community education:
• Streamlined program that provides solutions to practical proble"ms The CEA program will be
designed consideringstakeholder input to ensure it provides the right mixture of education and
practical problem solving assistance to support successful projects.
•. Online project analysis and'trackin~ tools for CEA participantsc In collaboration with the
local/regional GIS project mapping project, the Sonoma County'E'nergy Independence Program, and
the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program's development of a-centralized web portal, the CEA
will contribute online resources for tracking project progress and-GHG reduction results.
• Support climate protectiorr:~oals forlocal government ~eneral;plans:,The CEA program will support
long-term GHG reduction strategies for local government by supporting the integration of energy
and water efficiency with sola`r;electr-ic and'solarthermal technologies to;demonstrate the deep
energy reduction potential of the efficiency/solar model.
Resources: The CEA will work in partnership:with Solar Sonoma County; the.Sonoma County Energy
Independence .,Program, and the Countywide Retrofit/Renewables Program fo increase the adoption of
deep energy retrofitting in Sonoma County.
Case Studies: Three Solar America Cities have piloted similar programs upon which the CEA was
modeled:
Solar Now, .Portland, Oregon: The Solar Now program provides a series.of property owner classes in
the basics of solar electric and solar thermal systems, community presentations on solar, a
32
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County ,.
contractor referral service, solar home tours, community event outreach, and an monthly e-
newsletterfor property owners.90
MadiSUN SolarA~ent, Madison,'V1/isconsin: The IVIadiSUN SolarAgent program provides.commercial
property owners with 'bundled .packages of solar financing. rebates and incentives and"a free solar
consultation service that helps property~owners evaluate-solar technology, .architectural options,
explain permit and iori~ing issues and hovv to deal with them, assist with obtaining project quotes,
provide a list of local installers,. assist'with applying for solar. funding, and `provide~assistance during
the installer hiring process.91 -
SmartSolar Berkeley, California: Launched in April 2009, the SmartSolar program-provide's.free solar
energy consultingservices from the City of"Berkeley and" its partnerthe Community Energy'Services
Corporation.92 The program helps property.~owners understand and' adopt energy efficiency and
solar technologies through education. on available technologies and assistance with. project
planning, cost assessment, and financing. The program. uses the Berkeley Solar Map to assist,with
solar capacity assessments.93
6 -Clearinghouse.: for Request-for-,Bids .
Market Barrier: Public agencies and private projects lack a single, convenient, easily::accessible central
location for posting solar and energy efficiency project opportunities in Sonoma :County; forcing vendors
to proactively use various information sources (e.g., Web, newspaper, frade magazines, phone calls) at
multiple locations to find this information.
Recommendation; Establish a central 1Neb-based clearinglouse to List, requests•for proposals (REPS) and
construction,bddi.ngopportunitics for solar electric, solar thermal, and energy:efficiency projects in
Sonoma County.
Benefits:;A central location for, listing solar and' efficiency and solar RFPs has several:benefits, including;
Convenient access to information: Vendors will 6e ~ab'le to rapidly and easily check for new projects
that they can consider bidding on.
• Proiects will be>presented to a range of vendors: Project developers and local governments will be
able to present their projects to a large.and diverse audience of potential contractors, helping match
projects to the appropriate vendor.
• Easy and timely identification of proiects Both vendors and project promoters will be,able to
expedite the solicitation and response time for new projects.
90 Solar Now workshops: http://wwwrsoiarore~on.or~/workshops.
°i City of-Medison,'yJiscorisin; NladiSUN SoIaF~AgehYProgram,
http://www.eitVofmadison:com/Sustainability/City/MadiSUiV/busnesses.cfm .
9z City of Berkeley;SmartSolar Program, littg://,www:cityofberkele4•'infoLConteritPrint:aspx?id=38066
93 City of Berkeley>Solar Map: htfp://berkeley.solarmap.or~/solarmap v4.html
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.Open.competition: Presenting projects to a large audience will help ensure equitable business
opportunities for local veridors as well as~optimum pricing and best value .
Resources: The~Web now.-provides an appropriate platform to host an easy access~to solar and energy
efficiency project opportunities and links to detailed information about projects.
Background/Case Studies: A similar service is offered by the North Coast Builder-s.Exchange (NCBE),
which is amember-operated, not-for-.profit association serving the construction industry primarily in
Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties..The NCBE provides members with detailed information on
construction projects throughout the North Coast area for whichfull plans and specs are in NCBE plan
rooms, as well as listings of bid: results, building permits, projects in the pipeline, legal notices, and the
ability to search for items within these categories on the Web.
However, this service includes a wide range ofprojeet types in addition to solar and energy efficiency
projects, is based at the NCBE office location, and NCBE membership is required to access the
information collected.
The~NCBE has been inexistence for over 50 years and is well known to local governments and project
developers. When a public works department issues bid documents, copies are sent to the NCBE as a
matter of course. There is no charge for.listing a project. Project documents submitted in paper form are
scanned. by NCBE for Web=site retrieval by their members. Two full-time staff maintains this service,
ensuring the information is timely and updated as necessary.
Constraints: The establishment of a central web-based clearinghouse for solar and energy efficiency
projects will require a host organization and'staffing to keep the information organized and updated. A
single, impartial site that is widelyadvertised will provide the best results. Likely host organizations are
the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority or Solar Sonoma County.
Tasks: lderitify a host organization and ongoing funding for web-site operation.. The mission and. non-
profit, independent status of Solai=.Sonoma County makes it a good, choice for a possible host and .
operator. The Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (ItCPA) would bean ideal agency to
coordinate this project. Subtasks.include; Identifying host organization;and Web page format/functions,
communicate RFP posting opportunities to local governments and public agencies, coordinate outreach
or advertising campaign to invite participation.by private companies and property owners, and maintain
RFP Web presence°to upload new projects and removed expired, projects.
Such a centralized Web-base clearinghouse could be built on a contact.management,system that would
allow each participatirgpubl'icentity or business to pay a small fee for the right to- upload it RFP
documents on apes-upload basis providing an affordable option to the current newspaper
advertisement:'syste m.
34
Appendices
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36
Appendix. l Solar Implementation Plan History
The Solar Implementation Plan (SIP) is designed to help local governments contribute tq Solar Sonoma
County's goal of. installing 25. megawatts of new solar cap"acity by 2011 and maximize adoption of solar
.and efficiency through government leadership end marketplace transformation. The SIP was proposed
under the U.S. Department of Energy Solar America Cities grant. to. identify opportunities for
collaboration and partnership both among governments and vvith'the private sector to develop regional
programs for policies/regulations, financing/incentives, education, and market fi-ansfor`mation that
make the' best use of government and private sector resources, prevent duplication of effort, invite
participation from more cornmuriity stakeholders and standardize implementation processes (e.g.,
permitting, inspection), to support wide spread adoption of solar and efficiency upgrades..
The SIP development process included:
• Research: Research included project ideas in development by other Solar America Cities and
research and interviews with all ten-local governments to identify successful pi=og"ram models,
.current barriers to solar adoption, and possible solutions to address these. barriers.
• ~ Solar Sonoma County Stakeholder/Membership Recommendations: Proposed
recommendations were collected from SSC's Working Group and Policy-.Finance-.Incentive, Solar
Vendor, and Energy Efficiency committees. .
• Recommendation Selection: More.than'~SO recommendations were compiled through the:above
research and input process. The SSC staff and,advisors consolidated the'list to the top 24.
recommendations. These reeommendationswere submitted to the SSC Working Group, Board
of`Directors, and Ad,yisory Board through ~a survey_votingprocess fhatallowed the membership
to assist with the final prioritization. The recommendations not highlighted in this report:are
provided in Appendix 2 and remain a source of~additional opportunities for- market
transformation initiatives.
• Final SIP Preparation: The top siz recommendafionswere augmented with additional research
and consultation with local experts to, provide a useful profile of each recommendation
' .including-.the market barrier it is desigred to remove; benefits, local; resources, case studies,
constraints, and tasks.
37
Appendix 2: Additional SIP Recommendations
The following. recommendations were generated during the stakeholder input phase and development
of the Solar Implementation Plan, and represent additional opportunities for local government to
support market transformation #or clean energy adoption. The proposed recommendations below are
listed. in order of their popularity with. the. SSC stakeholders and membership as documented by the SIP
voting process:
ENERGY/SOLAR ANALYSIS TOOL LENDING LIBRARY: Working as a coalition; local governments could
establish a library of energy analysis tools; similar to the PG&E tool library, to provide local efficiency
and solar start-ups with the ability to.rent the equipment on an as needed basis until they are achieving
a client volume that support purchasing their own equipment. This might be part of the Countywide
Retrofit/Renewables Program.
CLEAN ENERGY GRID: Local governments could implement options for increasing the clean energy
profile of the local grid including utility-scale solar development such as is recommended in Santa Rosa
Green Building Advisory Committee report and Sonoma County Community Climate Action Plan
(Community Choice Aggregation) through an existing regional entity such as the SCTA Regional Climate
Protection Authority.
SURROGATE ROOF SOLAR GENERATION PROGRAM: Local governments could establish "Surrogate Root'
program modeled after the City of Saeram. ento (a Solar America City) in partnership with the
Sacramento Municipal Utility District, where solar electric systems installed on large municipal roofs can
carry extra capacity, the extra energy is sold to the energy market, sand. credit goes to City residents and
businesses. This option would require a local municipal utility district or community choice aggregation
body.
LEVERAGE AMERICAN RECOVERY/REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA) FUNDS FOR CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS:
Use federal/state grants (e.g., ARRA, EECBP, State Energy Program) to provide financial incentives such
as (1) increasing property owner rebates for.solar and efficiency; (2) creating a local Sonoma County
Energy Independence Program interest rate buy-down program; OR (3) participating in a mortgage buy-
down program, such as the 14X~ program; which offers reduced mortgage interest rates contingent upon
renovating or building to meet specific energy reduction targets.. For existing homes, mortgage interest
rates would.be louvered by l percent`if, with a minimum homeowner investment in efficiency upgrades
and/or renewable energy systems (which is added into the, new mortgage), the home is renovated to
meet a minimum HERS 70 (or equivalent rating). For new homes; interest rates would be lowered by
percent for achieving a HERS 70 rating and 1 percent for achieving a HERS 50 rating.
CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BONDS -SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS: School and hospital
districts could work with local NGOs (e.g., Solar Sonoma County) to apply for California Renewable
38
' Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
Energy Bond financing to promoted the installation of solar systems on school campuses and hospital
facilities.94
MUNICIPAL ENERGY FUND TO BANK COST SAVINGS: Local~governments could explore establishing an
"energyfund" financial model that collects the energy savings garhered from improvements to
municipal operations and. uses the funds for continued municipal efficiency projects.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING ENERGY POLICY: Local governments could collaborate with affordable. housing
organizations, the Sonoma County Housing Coalition, and other NGOs on developing apolicy/program
to integrate solar/efficiency features into the design for new affordable housing to lower energy costs.
for low-income households.
NEW CONSTRUCTION'SOLAR POLICY: Local governments could require pre-plumbing and. pre-wir'irig for
solar thermal and solar electric for new building and development; For example, Cotati requires pre-
plumbing for solar installations and has tree-trimming policies to preserve access to solar exposure in.
new construction building codes.95
NATURAL GAS REDUCTION POLICY: Local,;governments could implement policies and programs to
encourage offsetting natural gas use with solar for heating and thermal for both municipal and private
properties.
SOLARIZED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SYSTEM: Local governments could. establish.solar-powered
emergency preparedness support by installing solar electric `systems on key energy points to maintain
communications and services during,emergency (e:g:, City of New York solar emergency preparedness
model). This idea could also be expanded to establish'a cutoff switch program to solarized well pump
operation dur.irig natural disasters for both municipal and private wells.
MUNICIPAL SOLAR ANALYSIS SOFTWARE: Local governments could collaborate w.ith,NGOs and industry
professionals on developing a financial analysis software tool that will allow government staff to enter
basic data on a proposed solar/efficiency project (some of which may 6e supplied by skilled
subcontractors such as solar vendors or energy analysts) and generate apples-to-apples profiles of
proposed. municipal projects for internal decision making before going out to bid.
CLEAN ENERGYINCENTIVE PROGRAM: Local governments could establish a countywide incentive
program (e.g., a. Clean Energy Award Program) for all county property owners where a demonstrated
energy use decrease would make them eligible for a rebate on the permitting and inspection fees
incurred during their project. '
94 In 2009, 44 projects in Sonoma County received 2009 CREBs allocations totaling $38 million. As of March 2010, the RCPA is
exploring the benefits of forming a bond pool structure for Sonoma County CREBS issuers to potentially:minimiie°the
transaction costs of individual bond issues, secure a competitive interest rate, reduce local government/public agency staff time
expenses,.and provide assistance with project design, economics and implementation to maximize the benefits of these solar
and efficiencyprojects. Iriternal~Revenue Service 2009 CREBs Allocation Schedule: http://www.irs:eov/gub/irs-tei;e/ncr•ebs
95See California Energy Commission's New Solar Homes Partnership: http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/nshp/index.html
39.
-'
Solar Implementation Plan
Solar Sonoma County
POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT CRITEitIA: Local governments could define and set criteria for Power
Purchase Agreement projects that would,facilitatethc selection of properties where the solar
installation will not exceed the building's realistic useful life.
CLEAN ENERGY LEASING POLICY:,Local governments could participate insetting regional municipal
standards for leasing property that include Bola"rand efficiency upgrade requirements.
CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BONDS -PROJECT EVALUATIONS: Local governments could work with
relevant NGOs to create slow-cost solar evaluation program for municipal buildings that would provide
a solar analysis.of a target property before applying for CREBS to ensure proposal focuses on the best
opportunities.
40
POWERP09N~ PftESEBVAT101~
Solar Implementation. Plan
June 21, 2010
Solar SonomaCounty
• Goals:
-Add 25 megawatts (MW) r h~
of new solar generation `~
by May 2011; currently- ~ ~ ~ 1 `f
10.75 new MWs installed (j
- Long-term, replace 250 MW peak demantl
with solar energy/energy efficiency
- Support.countywide GHG reduction arget by
promoting clean energy opportunities,
Solar Imal'ementation Plan
• Set of recommendationsxo address;mal•ket
barriers to solar and energy.~efficiency
industries
• Compiled from:
- Research on`Solar America Cityand local programs
- Interviews with local government,partner staff
- Input from 50-member SSGWorking Group,
SSC committees, andbSC leadership
5%13/2010
Solar Sonoma County
• Nonprofit public/private consortium -local
governments; businesses, other entities and
individuals
• Collaborate to.promote, expand, and accelerate3olar
power and energy efficiency throughout Sonoma
County'
Funded'by grants from U.S. Department of Energy's
SolprAmerica Cities program thrdugh [he City of Santa Roso.
SOLAR AMERICA
~CITIES,~ ,,,,
Santa Rosa
• Founding partner in Solar Sonoma County
• Grant lead for
-DOE Solar America Cities 2008 grant:
• Form countywide stakeholder organization
• Create countywide Solar Implementation Plan
• Conductpublicoutreach/education - 2009 Solar Fair
- DOE Solar<.America Cities 2010 grant:
• Establish:`Clean.Energy Advocate Program
• Gpnduct public outreach/education - 2010 Solar Fair
.Key Concepts
' Countywide approach
• Public/private/community partnership
• Collaboration and innovation
• Local initiatives
• Leverage local resources
1
5/13/2010
Regional Standards
• Market Barrier:
.Time consuming compliance across
;jurisdictions
• Recommendation:
Standardize, streamline regional processes for
- Permitting and code compliarice '
- Municipal building code content
- Zoning ordinances
- General Plan elements
Government/Vendor Trainings
• Market Barrier:
Fast pace of technological innovation
Recommendation:
Provide solar/efficiency training for
government electeds/staff and code;training
for vendors
- Provide co-training opportunitieswhere Building officials
and vendors train together
Clean Energy Advocate
• Market;Barrier: .
Consumer corifi]siori afjout wfiat to do
• Recommendation:
Support Clean Energy Advocate program
- Independent third=party information source
- Help propertyowners undetstand process and energy
information
- Support.vehdor certification process
- Support project data collection
Funding Programs
• Market Barrier:
High upfront project costs
• Recommendation:'
Find ways to fund solar/efficiency projects
through existing fund programs
- Redevelopment Funds
- Community Development Funds
- Enterprise Funds
- Energy Service Company
Communi~ Education
• Market Barrier:
Lack of consumer awareness
• Recommendation`
-Include solar/efficiency message in existing
community outreach efforts
-Collaborate on new initiatives to education
community: door-to-door education,
solar home tours, neighborhood networks
Bid Clearinghouse
• Market Barrier:
Hard to find -solar/efficiency bids at multiple
locations
• Recommendation:
Establish one Web-based clearinghouse for
project request-for-bids
- Solar electric
- Solar hot water
- Energy efficiency
2
5/13/2010
Next Steps
• Council acceptance of SIP action items.
• Solar Sonoma County pursuit of
granting funding to support
local government SIP activities