1. Solar America Initiative
U.S. Department of Energy
Solar America Cities:
MINNEAPOLIS
SAINT PAUL
February 2009
Brian Ross
CR Planning, Inc.

2. First. . .
A Quiz!
When should we start planning for solar
energy?
Cost effectiveness - Just as soon as it costs
less than utility power?
Technology - When the new ‘ink-jet solar
panels’ come out?
Capital - Just as soon as we have some extra
money?

3. First. . .
A Quiz!
When should we start planning for solar
energy?
Cost effectiveness - Just as soon as it costs Wrong!
less than utility power?
Technology - When the new ‘ink-jet solar Wrong!
panels’ come out?
Capital - Just as soon as we have some extra
Wrong!
money?

4. All you need to remember from my
15 minutes . . .
 Cost effectiveness, innovative technology, availability of
capital will not result in major investment in solar energy.
 Creating a sustainable market for almost any product,
including solar energy, takes conscious effort sustained
over time.
 Minnesota communities can transform the market for
solar energy.

5. U.S. DOE Solar America Initiative:
Creating a Sustainable Solar Market
The goal of the Solar America Initiative is to help make solar
technologies cost-competitive across all U.S. markets by 2015.
Codes & Solar America State & Utility Workforce Solar
Standards Showcases Outreach America Cities
Development
www.eere.energy.gov/solar

6. Solar America Cities
Source: DOE Solar America Presentation

7. Solar America Cities
Activity Objective:
Partner with cities of 100,000 or more committed to
achieving a sustainable solar infrastructure
through a comprehensive, city-wide approach
that facilitates mainstream adoption of solar
and serves as a model for other cities to follow.
Project Overview:
Cities receive $200,000 in financial assistance plus
approximately $250,000 in technical assistance. Cities
must match the financial assistance amount only.
Source: DOE Solar America Presentation

8. In order to reach our SAI goal . .
..
8
Solar Costs
Source: DOE Solar America Presentation

9. U.S. National Electricity Price Forecast
• Applying the same conservative 4.7% inflationary rate,
c/kWh
Year* average US electricity prices will reach 16 c/kWh by 2015
• Rates in some states will be higher, with CT electricity
2008E 11.14 prices forecast to reach 27 c/kWh in 2015 by the same logic
2009E 11.66
2010E 12.21
2011E 12.79
2012E 13.39
2013E 14.02
2014E 15.67
2015E 15.36
*Estimates
Solar is already cost competitive in some states today and will be in many
more in coming years as energy prices increase nationwide 9
Source: DOE Solar America Presentation

10. Market barriers to solar commercialization
 Misunderstanding regarding solar potential
 Poor consumer awareness of technology and applications
 Inadequate codes and standards
 Lack of appropriate, consistent interconnection standards
 Lack of equitable and effective net-metering guidelines
 Inconsistent utility rate structure practices
 Complex or inconsistent permitting procedures and fees
 Inconsistent and lack of widespread incentives and other
adoption drivers
 Limited education/experience of key building trades with solar
 Need for trained technical personnel, reliable installers, and
maintenance services
 Lack of flexible, sophisticated, proven financial approaches

11. What’s Next
For Minnesota’s Solar Cities?
Convening Workgroups Taking Action
 State Policy – Building consensus Develop legislation to create or
among a diverse group of restore solar incentives, create
stakeholders on state policy
initiatives to understand market
initiatives; legislative,
transformation
programmatic, regulatory
 Local Policy – Working with
Look for opportunities to
stakeholders to identify and remove
streamline local regulation while
local barriers to market
meeting regulatory goals, create
transformation and create local
local market transformation efforts
opportunities for new incentives
and programs
 Communications – Creating and Identify branding and social
implementing a communications/ marketing concepts and create
branding plan to deliver key promotional materials directed
messages on solar potential and
toward key audiences
solar opportunities

12. What’s Next
For Minnesota’s Solar Cities?
Creating Initiatives Taking Action
 Training – identify the Work with colleges and technical
potential training barriers to a schools on solar curriculum
robust solar market
Work with trades to improve and
better use training facilities
Create and promote visible solar
 Visible Solar Investments – installations:
demonstrate that solar is  Minneapolis Convention Center
viable and that Minneapolis,  HourCar solar-powered plug-in
Saint Paul, and project hybrid charging stations
partners are prepared to  freEner-g solar leasing
provide leadership.  Collaborate to create new large
scale projects by 2010:
 Central Corridor LRT
 ????

13. Thank You!