ORECA Director Education Conference June 2, 2015 Jeff Beaman,
Member Services Director Central Electric Cooperative The Road to
Community Solar
Slide 2
Community Solar What is Community Solar? No legal definition
Centralized, grid connected Multiple participants Participant
funded
Slide 3
Community Solar Why is it Growing? Solar economics Incentives
and mandates Net metering hurdles Public / utility attitudes
Slide 4
Community Solar Solar Economics: Oregon and Washington
Expansion * 201320142015 est. 101 Mw123 Mw200 Mw *Solar Energy
Industries Assoc.
Slide 5
Community Solar Solar Economics (contd): 142 Solar-related
companies in Oregon 2,100 employees Installation costs: down 8
percent 2013 to 2014 down 49 percent since 2010
Slide 6
Community Solar National Trends: 2/3 of U.S. arrays installed
since 2011 Panel prices down 80% since 2008 PV system installed
every four minutes
Slide 7
Community Solar Mandates and Incentives: 30% federal tax credit
thru 2016 10% after Renewable Portfolio Standards Clean Power Plan
(Sec. 111d)
Slide 8
Community Solar Mandates and Incentives (contd): Federal
Subsidies 2010-13 Down $8.7 Billion overall Up $4.4 Billion for
Renewable Energy $2.5 billion for solar alone
Slide 9
Community Solar Utility Attitudes: Q: What new business model
developing? A: Distributed Generation: 48% (#3) Q: Fuel mix changes
over 20 years? A: More utility-scale solar (79%) and more
distributed energy (84%)
Slide 10
Community Solar Utility Attitudes (contd): Q: Most compelling
reason for clean energy investment? A:42% targets or mandates 31%
sustainability
Slide 11
Community Solar Utility Attitudes (contd): Q: How invest in
distributed energy resources? A:55% partner with 3 rd party
providers 46% procure from customer-sited DER
Slide 12
Community Solar Utility Attitudes (contd): Top three emerging
technology investments Utility scale renewables: 37% (#3)
Distributed solar: 32% (#5)
Slide 13
Community Solar Public Attitudes (homeowner survey): 88
percent: renewables important to future 69 percent: more energy and
electricity choices 62 percent: interested in solar for
residences
Slide 14
Community Solar 25% of U.S. Homes Net Metering Suitable Home
ownership vs. rental System cost Roof orientation Aesthetics and/or
restrictions
Slide 15
Community Solar Is it Right for Your Co-op? Rate economics:
cost vs. savings Specific mandates / incentive impacts Geographic
location, hows your sunshine? Member interest
Slide 16
Community Solar Member Interest: Survey comment dams and coal
are probably more practical now, but we think they should be phased
out and solar or other more environmentally friendly power sources
should be our future investments.
Slide 17
Community Solar CEC Member Interest (contd) Survey findings:
72% not familiar w/concept 69% view CEC involvement favorably 56%
interested in participating
Slide 18
Community Solar CEC Objectives: Manageable size: 100-kW to
500-kW Not rate based, participant-funded Gain solar knowledge
Serve member interest, offer choice Demonstrate proactive
approach
Slide 19
Community Solar Preliminary Analysis: Use industry standard
figures Bonneville Environmental Foundation ID potential grant
opportunities Refine information as you go
Slide 20
Community Solar Preliminary Analysis (contd): Drive to go no go
decision by board Build in checkpoints and exit ramps Engage
membership
Slide 21
Community Solar CEC advantages: Hybrid: Green Power and
subscription Available land Close proximity to grid
Slide 22
Community Solar Deeper Economic Analysis: Put project out to
bid Process reveals wide range of bids More fine tuning, other
costs firm up Reach point of go-forward or exit
Slide 23
Community Solar Bid Responses Firm100 kW200 kW Company
A$352,000$617,000 PRIOR ESTIMATE$348,000$616,000 Company
B$318,255$611,765 Company C$301,049$538,239 Company
D$294,273$570,195 Company E$259,494$479,178 Selected
Company$241,248$442,288
Slide 24
Community Solar Committed! Now What? Select Contractor = expert
partner Pursue grants Refine participation costs Communicate to
members, keep them apprised Address local permitting issues
Slide 25
Community Solar CEC Current Status Land permit application
pending One grant awarded, another pending Contracted with Sunlight
Solar Energy Design refinements Developing hybrid business
structure Marketing activities
Slide 26
Community Solar Project Schedule tentative 1 st permits filed
April 28 Permitting, materials acquisition thru mid-July Ground
prep, installation thru mid-Sept. Inspect, interconnect, commission
thru late Sept. Online Sept. 28
Slide 27
Community Solar Questions?
Slide 28
Community Solar My contact information: Jeff Beaman, Member
Service Director Central Electric Cooperative [email protected]
541.312.7753
