2012 Solar Bulk Purchase for
DC Nonprofits and Small
Businesses
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What is DC SUN?
What is a bulk purchase?
What financing options are available?
What other organizations will we be
working with?
What are the next steps in the process?
Any other questions?
Making solar affordable and accessible for all of DC
1.
Umbrella organization for 11
solar coops in DC
2.
Provides information, support,
& connections to expedite the
solarization process
3.
Helps nonprofits use solar
power to reduce utility bills &
increase mission-based
spending
Contact | SolarCoop@Yahoo.com
Website | http://www.DCSUN.org
Florida Avenue Baptist Church’s Rev. Earl Trent
Why go solar now?
What is a Bulk Purchase?
1.
Group of nonprofits
collaborates to acquire solar
PV systems
2.
Collaborative pre-installation
process supported by DC
SUN
3.
Single installer
4.
Each participant receives its
own system, and creates its
own unique financing
package
1
2
Save Money
Ability to utilize
economies of
scale
Greater
competition
between
developers
More
negotiating
power
Easier
Implementation
Process
Guidance from DC
SUN & other
organizations
Collaboration
through support
network of other
Bulk Purchase
participants
3
More
Fundraising
Opportunities
Larger
projects
attract press
and donors
DC SUN will
supplement
fundraising
efforts
Potential Participating DC Community Organizations
Include:
1.
Emergence Community Arts Collective
2.
Bread for the City
3.
Open Arms Housing
Looking for other interested organizations
Full Purchase
PPA
Pros
Pros
1. Substantial & immediate savings on energy
expenditures
1. Little to no upfront costs
1. Organization retains ownership of SRECs
& all other incentives associated with solar
system installation & renewable energy
production
1. No incentives are left on the table
Cons
Cons
1. Significant upfront costs
1. Limited
savings
1. Depending on tax appetite, various
incentives might be left on the table
1. Organization is responsible for general
maintenance & upkeep of the solar system
1. Low risk
1. Organization is not responsible for general
maintenance & upkeep of the solar system
annual
energy
expenditure
1. SRECs and all other incentives associated
with solar system installation & renewable
energy production below to the developer
Decision Makers
START
Nonprofit 1 Nonprofit 2
Sign up at http://bitly.com/bulkpurchasesignup
LOI
Sign
Select Installer
Request For
Proposals
(RFP)
SolMarket - https://www.solmarket.com/
1.
SolMarket, a SolSystems company, is a collaborative solar
marketplace through which host sites, developers, & investors
can connect in an efficient & standardized process
1.
DC SUN will work with the SolSystems team to issue the group
RFP through SolMarket’s new RFP platform.
JWEST Solutions – http://www.jwsdc.com
1.
JWEST Solutions is a consultancy firm with expertise in building
and infrastructure issues related to going solar (load capacity,
electrical interconnection, system racking, etc.)
1.
DC SUN will work with JWEST Solutions to complete
comprehensive site assessments for bulk purchase participants
1.
Roofing – How old is your roof? What material is it made
of? Are there any structural or shading issues with your
roof?
1.
Decision Makers – Who in your organization will have
to give the final “OK” on this kind of project? Who will be
the primary contact for information about the project?
1.
Capital
– Does your organization have capital that it is
willing to commit upfront to this project? Are you
interested in putting together a fundraising campaign, in
collaboration w/ DC SUN, to reduce the overall cost of the
project?
Step
Decision
1
Contact DC SUN & submit a copy of utility bill. Discuss with
DC SUN:
1. Intent to implement a solar system
2. What amount of capital, if any, your organization is able
to pay upfront
2
Consult with DC SUN to resolve any further questions
4
Finalize “go/no go” decision
5
Sign “Letter Of Intent”
5
Develop & initiate a fundraising campaign/strategy
Questions?
For more information visit:
https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/2012-nonprofit-bulk-purchase
Full Purchase
Nonprofits negotiate a bulk purchase of a solar PV system. Each
nonprofit pays for its respective portion of the system, and, in exchange,
retains 100% ownership of (1) the solar system, (2) the power the
solar system installed on its property produces, (3) the Solar
Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) that correspond to that
renewable energy production, & (4) all other corresponding incentives.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
A project developer pays for, owns, and maintains a solar PV system for
each participating nonprofit. In exchange, (1) the nonprofits pay a
predetermined, discounted rate for all power produced by the system
throughout the life of the PPA contract, and (2) the project developer
retains 100% ownership of all incentives associated with the purchase
of the systems.
Visualization of Energy Expenditure Savings
Energy
Expenditure
Savings
Pros | (1) Substantial & immediate savings, (2) ownership of SRECs
Cons | (1) Significant upfront costs, (2) tax-based incentives left on table,
(3) responsible for upkeep
Visualization of Energy Expenditure Savings
Energy
Expenditure
Savings
Pros | (1) Little to no upfront costs, (2) low risk, (3) not responsible for
upkeep
Cons | (1) Limited annual savings, (2) incentives go to developer
1.
Regular PPA - $0 upfront, higher monthly $/kWh
2.
Prepaid PPA – Pay $ upfront for lower monthly $/kWh
The more money prepaid, the greater the savings: