View the slidedeck from The Piedmont Environmental Council and Local Energy Alliance Program's Solarize Webinar on August 18, 2020. Find out more about rooftop and ground mount solar options for your home, farm or business.

1. Solarize Information Session

2. The Piedmont Environmental Council ♦ Local Energy Alliance Program
Ryan Van Patten
Solar Manager,
Local Energy Alliance Program
Bri West
Director of Communications,
Piedmont Environmental Council
Your Hosts Today:

3. The Piedmont Environmental Council ♦ Local Energy Alliance Program
Installers Here With Us:
Tim Heltzel
Solar Design Specialist
Sam Linton
Project Manager / Lead Installer

4. The Piedmont Environmental Council ♦ Local Energy Alliance Program
Game Plan for Today’s Webinar
● Welcome / Introductions
● Solar basics
● Q&A with LEAP, PEC and the Solarize Installers

5. An clean energy initiative organized by The Piedmont Environmental
Council and the Local Energy Alliance Program.
What is Solarize Piedmont?
Solarize is a one-stop-shop for
residents to learn more about
solar power options for their
homes and facilitate the
installation and financing of their
own project.
www.solarizeva.org

6. It’s a good deal – and it’s easier than going it alone
• Vetted contractors - experience, certifications, warranties
• Discounted, fixed pricing (bulk-purchasing price, competitively bid)
• Turn-key, standardized package
• LEAP staff do the all the homework and support you through the process
Why sign up for a Solarize program?
www.solarizeva.org

7. How it Works
Step 1: Sign up at www.solarizeva.org
• LEAP staff performs satellite assessment and contacts you with results
• Submit a recent electric bill
• Schedule an energy efficiency consultation (optional)
• Attend a Solarize program info session (optional)
Then, if your property is a good candidate
• Consultation by installer who will assess your site and develop a
proposal
• Proposal approval: sign contract with installer
• Permits, installation, utility connection, inspections
• Enjoy watching your meter spin backwards!
www.solarizeva.org

8. As of the beginning of 2020, 412 contracts totaling more than 4MW of
solar capacity and valued at over $9.5 million have been signed.
Solarize Results

9. Who Can Sign Up?
• Solarize Piedmont is for residents, organizations, and businesses
within the campaign area: Albemarle, Charlottesville, Clarke,
Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange and
Rappahannock.
• If you live outside of this area, we may still serve you. Please
contact info@solarizenova.org for more information.
www.solarizeva.org

10. Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency typically is the most cost-effective, most available
clean energy resource. A good PV installer will always encourage you
to pursue efficiency first – so that you are “renewable ready”. LEAP
promotes and facilitates EE improvements with affordable energy
assessments for your home or business.
Email: info@leap-va.org
Reduce
&
Produce!

11. Orientation
www.solarizeva.org

12. Solar Basics
• Panel installation generally takes 1-3 days, but the entire process
(including system design, permitting, interconnection) takes 6-12 weeks.
• System Components:
• Photovoltaic Panels
• “Balance of System” equipment
such as mounting hardware,
inverter, cables and meters
• Productive life of 25+ years with minimal
maintenance
• Photo = Light; Voltaic = Electricity
• When light strikes the silicon semiconductor, an electron
is knocked loose.
• The electrons then flow along a circuit and are
directed to an inverter.
www.solarizeva.org

13. www.solarizeva.org

14. Panel Installation
www.solarizeva.org

15. • Converts Direct Current (DC) electricity from
solar panels into Alternating Current
electricity, which powers your home.
• When shading conditions exist, installers may
recommend microinverters or DC optimizers
in lieu of central inverters, which allow arrays
with some shading to increase energy
production.
www.solarizeva.org

16. Put it all together…

17. Net Metering
*Graphic from Dominion Power
What is Net Metering? a metering and billing agreement between a
utility and a customer that facilitates connecting PV systems to the
power grid. A new meter is installed that measures two-way flow of
electricity. The energy your system makes is first used on site. When your
solar system is making more electricity than you are using at the time,
the excess electricity is recorded by the meter as it flows back
into the grid and is credited against future electricity use.
www.solarizeva.org

18. Tax Credits
Federal Tax Credit:
• 26% of total install cost - credited to your federal income tax bill
• This is a credit – not a rebate. You must owe federal income tax in order to
be credited back.
• One’s credit balance can rollover to subsequent years.
www.solarizeva.org

19. Solarize 2020 Pricing
Roof-mounted system Ground-mounted system
3-5kW 5-10kW >10kW 5-10kW >10kW
Standard panel +
string inverter
$2.80 $2.55 $2.45 $2.95 $2.90
Standard panel + DC
optimizer/microinverter
$2.80 $2.55 $2.45 $2.95 $2.90
Buy America panel +
string inverter
$2.95 $2.60 $2.50 $3.00 $2.95
Buy America panel +
string inverter or DC
optimizer/microinverter
$2.95 $2.60 $2.50 $3.00 $2.95
*https://www.solar-estimate.org/solar-panel-cost/virginia
Compare to the state average price of $3.11/watt.*
www.solarizeva.org

20. Sample System Economics
System Size/panel 3kW Standard 8kW Standard
Installed cost $8,400 $20,400
Cost after tax credit $6,216 $15,096
Annual kWh produced,
yr 1
3,919 10,451
Average monthly PV
“income” or offset, yr.
1
$36 $96
Conservative assumptions for these projections:
* All are roof-mounted systems
* Installation orientation and angle are good – not perfect
* electricity price/kWh: $0.11
* SREC value: $0
* Production calculated with https://pvwatts.nrel.gov/
www.solarizeva.org

21. Solarize Warranties
All Solarize customers receive a 10 year workmanship warranty from
participating solar installer.
Solar Panel:
Minimum of 10 year manufacturer product warranty
25 year linear performance warranty
Inverters:
Minimum of 10 year manufacturer product warranty
Mounting System:
Minimum of 10 year manufacturer product warranty
www.solarizeva.org

22. HOAs & Solar Systems
“Our report concludes that
HOAs have limited ability to
restrict rooftop installations. In
instances where disputes
proceed to litigation, Virginia
law allows homeowners to
recover reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs.”
https://reisingergooch.com/solar-benefits/

23. A Happy Solar Customer: Lazaro Home
• 14 Sunpower Panels: 4.5kW system
• Paid $3.74/Watt (Solarize Leesburg 2014)
• 6,535 kWh output = $719 earned in 2015
• Installed for $16,830: $11,781 after rebate.
• 16 yr. payback: 6.25% average annual rate of
return over 16 years.
www.solarizeva.org

24. Lazarro Family Savings

25. Continuous On-Line Monitoring

26. 2020 Campaign Installers
www.solarizeva.org

27. Questions?
Photo of a 2015 Solarize Piedmont Installation at
Oakham Farm in Middleburg, VA

28. Sign up: solarizeva.org or pecva.org
Questions? Contact:
info@solarizenova.org
Thank you!