Solar Over Louisville:
2 Million Watt Challenge
A Project of the LSC Green Economy Action Team
Presentation to Louisville Sustainability Board, 6/24/15
Presented by: Nancy Givens, Renewable Energy Subteam Chair
LSC Green Economy Action Team
Renewable Energy Subteam
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Colleen Crum – Green Economy Action Team, Chair
Nancy Givens, Subteam Chair, Avery and Sun Solar Installations, KySES board
Wallace McMullen – Energy Chair, Sierra Club Cumberland Chapter
Justin Carter – Operations Coordinator, Family Scholar House
David Huff – Director Energy Efficiency and Smart Grid Strategy, LG&E
Amy Waters – Treasurer, Kentucky Solar Energy Society (KySES), 350.org
Tim Darst – Executive Director, Kentucky Interfaith Power and Light
Joan Lindop – League of Women Voters, Sierra Club
Ross Pusateri – YouthBuild Louisville
Robert Chatham – Energy Consultant, KySES
Lissa McCraken – Executive Director, Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center
Bobby Clark – Director of Business Development, Midwest Clean Energy Enterprise LLC
Sy Safi - GCCM Construction Services, My Green Kentucky Home Project
Josh Bills - Energy Efficient Enterprises Program Coordinator, MACED
Kenya Stump – Assistant Director of Renewable Energy, DEDI
Why Solar Energy?
SEIA Q1 2015 Market Insights Report shows:
▪ 1.3 GW solar installed in Q1 (total of 21.5 GW in U.S. now)
▪ 76% increase over Q1 2014
▪ 53% of new installed electric capacity in U.S. in Q1 2015 is from solar
Benefits of Solar
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Saves $$
Improves air and water quality
Creates local jobs and boosts the economy
Reduces carbon emissions
Enhances public health
Advances city’s economic draw for new businesses, residents, and visitors
Diversifying the energy supply builds energy security and resilience
Why a SOL Campaign?
▪ Solar incidence in KY is good – much better than Germany
which is now 30% solar
▪ Cost of solar; industry booming; local jobs; high interest
▪ "People decide where to live before the decide where to work."
Solar is attractive to potential new businesses and residents
▪ Other cities have responded more quickly to solar; CEA Solarize Cincinnati,
Solar America Cities
▪ Cities nationally are electing to set a goal for Net Zero Energy, i.e.,Vancouver,
BC; Burlington, VT, Fort Collins, CO
▪ NCSU recent study ranked Louisville last of 50 large American cities in solar
value http://nccleantech.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/Going-Solar-inAmerica-Ranking-Solars-Value-to-Customers_FINAL.pdf
Why now?
▪ 30% federal ITC for solar is set to expire in 2016
▪ ePAD legislation* for EE & RE: no upfront cost, tied to property
tax Gil Holland: “I have 20 solar projects ready to go.”
▪ Momentum for solar + save $$, create jobs, boost economy,
clear air, energy security
▪ Louisville has major pushes going on NOW
▪ Solar lighting project for Dixie Highway in Shively (315 kw):
budget is approved for Phases 1 and 2.
▪ Sheppard Square low-income housing solar with Metro Housing Authority:
8 buildings (5 kw ea.) + Presbyterian Community Center (50 kw)
▪ St Denis Senior Apartments – solar hot water saves senior money
www.aetsolar.com/CaseStudies/SunWindPower_%20StDenis.pdf
Goals of Campaign
The Solar Over Louisville: 2 Million Watt Challenge has
a vision to expand community awareness and solar energy
capacity in Louisville for residents and the business community
through a variety of programs:
2 Million Watts Challenge
Solar Community Farm
Large Demonstration- Education Model(s) at Public Facility
EV Charging Stations Network
Neighborhoods and Eco-districts Coops
Presentations-Tours-Trainings
▪ Education goals: Website, social media, press releases, series of presentations
and tours, solar installer and NABCEP certification trainings
▪ Installed capacity goals: 2 million watts by 2016 and project goals listed above
Alignment with STAR Communities
▪ CE-3 Greening the Energy Supply, Outcome 2: “Demonstrate that the community
receives a portion of its overall energy supply from renewable energy sources.”
(0 points achieved at baseline in 2014)
▪ All of Community Level Outcomes, Local Actions* (p. 14) are impacted
▪ Multiple goals and objectives under Climate and Environment
(climate change mitigation, greenhouse gas reduction, greening the energy supply,
resource efficiency for industrial sector-buildings-public infrastructure, impact
opportunities for distributed generation of energy, facilitate transition toward lowemissions vehicles)
▪ Also goals and objectives identified under Economy and Jobs
(green market development, quality jobs, targeted industry development, local
economy), Health and Safety (natural and human hazards), and Natural Systems
(natural resource protection and outdoor air quality)
▪ Additional goals and objectives under Health and Safety and Natural Systems
Work Done to Date
▪ Solar subteam of LSC GrEAT Team created to plan initiative; LG&E represented on
subteam
▪ Stakeholders engaged:
▪ Meeting with DEDI and government, utility, nonprofit, and community stakeholders*
Support Louisville solar campaign as model to other KY cities
▪ Meeting w/ Metro Office of Sustainability: possible contribution of small amount of
staff time and money; possible incentive funds similar to MSC for green
infrastructure; launch w/ ePAD?
▪ Sierra Club: Solar Resolution* and will pay website hosting fee; additional donation
▪ Kentucky Solar Energy Society: support commitment and donation
▪ Website: http://colleencrum.wix.com/solaroverlouisville
▪ Meetings w/ Metro Council members, early in process: Bill Hollander (District 9) and
Rick Blackwell (District 12) want to co-sponsor
▪ Others to contact: GLI, KAM (Manufacturers association), HBA, KYSES, KYSEA, KYUSGBC,
IFMA, BOMA, DEDI, industry companies, solar manufactures and contractors,
electrical/controls companies, and etc.
Timeline
Date
Goal
Mar-June, 2015
Planning Committee forms, initial stakeholder meetings; website prototype
July-Aug, 2015
Program approved, fundraising begins
Sept-Oct, 2015
Hire staff member; plan and prepare for launch; National Solar Tour event
Nov-Dec, 2015
Launch campaign to city (corresponding with ePAD launch?)
Jan-Dec 2016
June + Dec 2016
Jan 2017
Implement campaign – presentations, press, social media, tours, trainings
Mid-term and end-of-year evaluations
(Possible) Transition to ReEnergize Louisville for EE + RE w/2030 Goal
Current Challenges
▪ Hosting – What organization(s) will host campaign?
▪ Fundraising – not a 501c3 organization; competition with other green
initiatives
▪ Lack of supportive policies – state, local, and utility
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30 kw Net-metering cap
Virtual net-metering for community solar farms
RPS or Feed-in tariff
Incentives, Solar leasing
policy to Permit solar with new construction
▪ Marketing plan – what happens after the website?
▪ Stakeholder development – Meet with key manufacturing cos. to discuss
initial participation and direction campaign launch could take
Budget
Preferred model: Owned by LSC, RE sub-team is Planning Committee, hire
Communications-Events Mgr. for website, social media, news releases, scheduling
and planning events, tours, presentation, and trainings – keep it DYNAMIC!!
Staff –½ time FTE Communications & Events Scheduling (no benefits)
Basic office equipment (or access) – computer or laptop, printer, projector
Advertising – banner, print-radio-tv-online ads, billboard(?)
$ 22,000
3,000
1,000
Office Supplies
500
Travel
800
Indirects (10%)
Projected minimum budget: $30,000/year
An additional $40,000 would be required to hire a ½-time Executive Director
2,700
Fundraising Plan
▪ Potential group sponsors list* – Letter to introduce
campaign to potential donor groups
▪ Stakeholder levels:
▪ Hosts (i.e., LSC?, LEA?)
▪ Donors (in 5 levels, below)
▪ Sponsors – all groups which support goals and offer some type of support
▪ Suggested Donor levels:
▪ Founding Partner
> $5000
▪ Sustaining Partner $1000-4999
▪ Supporting Member
$250-999
▪ Affiliating Member
$50-249
▪ Friend
<$50
▪ Request $2000 from each Metro Council member
Support needed from LSC
▪ Fiscal sponsorship: Serve as 501c3 agent for fundraising; portion
of funds goes to LSC
▪ Financial support: $500-1000 per year or more commitment;
▪ Staff hiring agent. Possible (shared) office location – or work
from home
▪ Authority for soliciting funds to meet budget needs
▪ Continuance of Planning Committee and involvement by LSC teams
Thank you!
Q&A