The DOE SunShot Initiative provided grants to 22 projects around the US, including one in Tennessee, to reduce soft costs associated with rooftop solar installations. The Tennessee project focused on streamlining permitting and interconnection processes, expanding financing options, and addressing planning and zoning issues. It facilitated discussions between local stakeholders that led to process improvements cutting delays. A proposed Phase II project would expand this work across the entire TVA service region, addressing unique challenges in small/rural communities and continuing to educate stakeholders.

1. DOE SunShot Initiative
Rooftop Solar Challenge
Eric Ogle

2. Overview
~10 mins:
• SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge, Phase I summary
• Phase I Goals and Partners
• Phase I Outcomes
• Recent Events
• SunShot RSC, Phase II proposal overview
~15 mins:
• The Rooftop Solar App

3. SunShot Phase I Summary
• The Tennessee SunShot effort was one of 22 projects in the
US funded with a DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge grant
• DOE estimates that 35% of installation costs are due to non-
hardware costs. SunShot goals relate to reducing “soft costs”
associated with rooftop solar:
– Improve market conditions for Rooftop Solar
– Streamline and standardize permitting processes
– Reduce market barriers to increase Solar adoption
– Facilitate participation of local governments, utilities, and organizations
• The Tennessee SunShot effort focused on:
– Permitting and interconnection processes
– Financing
– Planning and zoning issues
– Net metering and interconnection standards
• The UT team facilitated discussion of issues but the Project Partners
made any key decisions…

4. SunShot Goal: Reduce Non-Technical
Barriers to Rooftop PV

5. Key Findings
• Improvements came from process efficiencies
• Streamlined municipal review process
• Proposed streamlined parallel process for <10kw
• Consistent communications often did not exist
among local stakeholders
• Change in signature processes cut delays
• Financing does not appear to be a deterrent
• Current issues include how to value a PV system
during property transfers

6. DOE Evaluation of Progress
• DOE NREL Solar Metrics market assessments for each
jurisdiction submitted at beginning of project (Feb 2012)
• Completed with municipalities and distributors, with industry
verification
• Solar Metrics market assessments perfomed again and
submitted to DOE NREL at project end (Feb 2013)
• Again, completed with municipalities and distributors, with
industry verification
• Significant improvements according to DOE NREL Solar
market assessments:
• 75% improvement in the overall team score

7. Recent Deliverables
• A dozen white papers, covering an assortment of Solar
related topics, all of which are on the project site at:
sites.google.com/site/sunshottn
• Recent Franklin water treatment facility case study
• Memphis BioWorks parking garage case study
• A Rooftop Solar App for iOS and Android devices
• Tennessee Solar conference…

8. Tennessee Solar Summit
Day 1
• Phase I Jurisdictions
• Mobile Application
• Breakout sessions
• Matt Brown from TVA
• Amy Bunton from Pathway
• Mayor Talley from Ducktown
• Justin Barnes from NCSC
• Chattanooga Airport
Installation
• Ted Wampler
Day 2
• Nashville/Davidson County Mayor
Karl Dean
• John Hopkins from TN Score
• Panel facilitated by Bruce Tonn
• TenneSEIA’s Gil Hough
• State of TN’s Molly Cripps
• NCSC’s Justin Barnes
• TVA’s Patty West
• ICMA session: Integrating Solar into
Local Plans
• Solar Tour of Chattanooga Airport
April 10-11, 2013 – Chattanooga

9. SunShot Phase II Proposal
• UT submitted a Phase II concept paper to DOE in
January
• Essentially propose to extend the Phase I project
area to the entire the TVA service region
• DOE invited a full proposal, which was submitted
on March 21
• Decision expected in mid- to late-May

11. Additional Partners
• University of Alabama at Huntsville, Redstone Energy,
Mississippi State University, Western Kentucky
University, NASEO, Brooks Engineering, Simplikate and
Vergence
• Association of Tennessee Valley Governments
• Five State Energy Offices (TN, MS, AL, NC, KY)
• TenneSEIA
• NC Solar Center
• Sandia National Laboratories
• TREEDC
• ICMA
• TAPA

12. Anticipated Phase II Outcomes
• Continue work with partner communities to understand
and reduce barriers associated with Solar
• Address unique issues in small and rural communities
• Work with the planning community to share best practices,
model zoning, relaxed constraints, etc.
• Work with local governments to prepare for Solar growth
• Work with real property professionals to expand
knowledge base for valuation of solar properties
• Develop case studies, white papers, create Public Service
Announcements and educational materials of interest to
stakeholders
• Should hear from DOE soon.