Links to many of the publications below will take you off this U.S. government site.
NREL and National Trust for Historic Preservation. September 2011.This paper details findings from a workshop held in Denver, Colorado, in June 2010 that brought together stakeholders from both the solar and historic preservation industries. Based on these findings, this paper identifies challenges and recommends solutions for developing solar photovoltaic (PV) projects on historic buildings and in historic districts in such a way as to not affect the characteristics that make a building eligible for historic status.
September 2011.This case study covers the process of successfully integrating photovoltaic (PV) systems into a low-income housing development in northeast Denver, Colorado, focusing specifically on a new financing model and job training.
CH2MHill. August 2011.The U.S. photovoltaic (PV) industry is forecast to grow, and it represents an opportunity for economic development and job creation in communities throughout the United States. This report helps U.S. cities evaluate economic opportunities in the PV industry. It serves as a guide for local economic development offices in evaluating their community’s competitiveness in the solar PV industry, assessing the viability of solar PV development goals, and developing strategies for recruiting and retaining PV companies to their areas.
MRG & Associates and NREL. August 2011.This report examines the economic impacts (including job creation) from the Boulder County, Colorado, ClimateSmart Loan Program (CSLP), an example of Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing. The CSLP was the first test of PACE financing on a multi-jurisdictional level (involving individual cities as well as the county government).
Solar America Communities / CH2M Hill. May 2011.This on-line calculator provides city-by-city timing of cost convergence – when the cost of energy per kWh from PV equals the cost of energy from the local utility - and provides understanding about the influence of incentives on this timing.
The Vote Solar Initiative. April 2011.This report reviews solar permitting processes in 34 Colorado jurisdictions.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. April 2011.The research in this study finds strong evidence that homes with PV systems in California have sold for a premium over comparable homes without PV systems.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. February 2011.SolOpt is a tool for optimizing and sizing rooftop photovoltaic and solar hot water system installations. The tool is currently in beta version and can be tested using the attached Excel spreadsheet. Note: When prompted to ‘Open,’ ‘Save,’ or ‘Cancel,’ select the ‘Save’ option for proper operation.
Linda Irvine, Alex Sawyer, Jennifer Grove - Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development. February 2011.This guidebook describes the key elements of the Solarize campaigns in Portland and offers several program refinements from projects beyond Portland. The guidebook provides lessons, considerations, and step-by-step plans for project organizers to replicate the success of Solarize Portland.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. December 2010.In this report, the authors studied different facets of crediting mechanisms, and defined five different theoretical models describing different ways competitive suppliers and utilities provide net metering options for their customers. They then provided case studies to illustrate the models.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November 2010.The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) today released its first Model Program Rules for Community Renewables. Based on best practices, the model rules are presented to facilitate co-investment in local renewable power facilities.
Utah Clean Energy. November 2010.This plan outlines Utah’s strategy to guide the development of a viable and robust solar market across the state. Includes experience, research, and analysis to address barriers to solar energy.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November 2010.This guide provides an overview of best practices in facilitating coinvestment in local renewable power facilities and outlines model community solar program rules.
Prepared by Critigen in partnership with CH2M HILL for the U.S. Department of Energy. November 2010.This report includes data on the number of installations and installed capacity of PV and SWH systems in the 25 Solar America Cities in 2007 and 2008.
Network for New Energy Choices, Vote Solar Initiative, Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November 2010.This report outlines the best and worst practices in state net-metering and interconnection policies.
NREL. November 2010.This guide is designed as a resource for those who want to develop community solar projects, from community organizers or solar energy advocates to government officials or utility managers. By exploring the range of incentives and policies while providing examples of operational community solar projects, this guide will help communities to plan and implement successful local energy projects. In addition, by highlighting some of the policy best practices, this guide suggests changes in the regulatory landscape that could significantly boost community solar installations across the country.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2010.This guide explains multiple financing options available to homeowners considering the installation of a PV system. The report includes short descriptions and a table comparison of financing a PV system though a cash purchase, home equity loan, solar lease, residential PPA, and a PACE financing program.
Sierra Club. October 2010.This study reviews commercial permit fees in Northern California. The report includes a detailed list of recommendations for municipalities interested in reducing permit fees and streamlining the permitting process.
The Solar Foundation. October 2010.The National Solar Jobs Census 2010 is the first attempt to quantify the current employment and projected growth of the United States solar industry and is based on a statistically valid sampling of employers throughout the nation.
City of San Diego. September 2010.A report detailing the city of San Diego's solar map project and three solar photovoltaic case studies with energy and financial impact analysis
Sarah Mynhier. August 2010.This presentation summarizes case studies of the time and cost involved in the distributed PV permitting and inspection process in three Solar America Cities.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. July 2010.This report provides an overview of PV, SWH, and concentrating solar power (CSP) market trends in the United States in 2009.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2010.This analysis uses simulated building data, simulated solar photovoltaic (PV) data, and actual electric utility tariff data from 25 cities to better understand the impacts of different commercial rate structures on the value of solar PV systems. By analyzing and comparing 55 unique rate structures across the United States, this study seeks to identify the rate components that have the greatest effect on the value of PV systems.
Prepared by Bill Brooks for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. June 2010.This 2010 update to the 2006 edition consolidates the most import aspects of a field inspection into a simple process that can be performed in as few as 15 minutes. Explanation and illustrative pictures are provided to instruct the inspector on the specific details of each step.
Prepared by Bill Brooks for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. June 2010.This 2010 update to the 2006 edition consolidates the most import aspects of a field inspection into a simple process that can be performed in as little as 15 minutes. Explanations and illustrative pictures are included to instruct the inspector on the specific details of each step.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2010.This fact sheet is for policy makers to determine if residential PACE programs should include PV as an eligible measure.
Salt Lake County. May 2010.Salt Lake County 2010 RFP to provide Photovoltaic (“PV”) systems of approximately 900
kW-1.6 MW capacity located on the roofs of multiple County-owned
facilities.
EuPD Research. May 2010.This study, prepared for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), includes forecasts on the number of jobs and solar installations resulting from an extension of the TGP and inclusion of the MITC.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2010.This report relies on six in-depth interviews with loan program administrators to provide descriptions of existing loan programs. Findings from the interviews are combined with a review of relevant literature to elicit best practices and lessons learned.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Solar America Cities. April 2010.This policy brief analyzes one of the advantages of PACE, which is the option to transfer the special assessment from one homeowner to the next when the home is sold. This analysis focuses on the potential for the outstanding lien to affect the sales negotiation process, rather than the legal nature of the lien transfer itself.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. April 2010.Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory attempted to calculate the bill savings from net-metering tariffs for PV for residential customers of California’s two largest utilities, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE).
Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership; Alliance to Save Energy; American Council on Renewable Energy. April 2010.The Compendium of Best Practices is a collaborative report on state and local best practices in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The report includes details on state and local policies, financing mechanisms, and other initiatives that have created favorable market conditions for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Solar ABCs. April 2010. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) allows the utility to communicate with the customer, the customer to communicate with the utility and, in many cases, allows the utility to gain rapid feedback on the condition of and events occurring on its electric grid. This white paper is a primer that gives the reader an overview of AMI and...
Southwest Technology Development Institute, New Mexico State University. March 2010.This manual examines the requirements of the 2005 National Electrical Code as they apply to PV power systems. It includes the design requirements for the balance-of-system components in a PV system, including conductor selection and sizing, overcurrent protection device rating and location, and disconnect rating and location. Stand-alone, hybrid, and utility-interactive PV systems are covered. Applicable sections of the NEC are cited.
Southwest Technology Development Institute, New Mexico State University. March 2010.This manual examines the requirements of the 2005 National Electrical Code (NEC) as they apply to PV power systems. It addresses the design requirements for the balance-of-systems components in a PV system, including conductor selection and sizing, overcurrent protection device rating and location, and disconnect rating and location. Standalone, hybrid, and utility-interactive PV systems are covered. References are made to applicable sections of the NEC.
Dana Hall, James Rose, and Laurel Varnado for Solar Today. March 2010. Kevin Fox for Solar Today. March 2010. Chris Neidl for Solar Today. March 2010. Interstate Renewable Energy Council. February 2010.This report is an update to the September 2008 edition, and contains recommended training guidelines, training criteria, assessment tools, task analyses, credentialing programs, and other related resources for renewable energy training programs. The report includes recommended facilities, hardware, and materials for PV and SWH training programs.
National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. January 2010.In partnership with American Technical Publishers, the National JATC (NJATC) created a com¬prehensive textbook on designing, installing, and evaluating residential and commercial PV systems. It covers the principles of PV and describes how to effectively incorporate PV systems into standalone or interconnected electrical systems. The content includes system advantages and disadvantages, site evaluation, component operation, system design and sizing, installation requirements, and recommended practices. Available for purchase.
Troy A. Rule, University of Missouri School of Law. January 2010.This article applies Calabresi and Melamed’s “Cathedral” framework of property rules and liability rules to compare and analyze existing solar access laws and to evaluate a model solar access statute recently drafted under funding from DOE.
Troy A. Rule, University of Missouri School of Law. January 2010.This article analyzes conflicts between states and communities over land use laws that restrict distributed renewable energy. Framing these conflicts as clashes over scarce “entitlements” to regulate, the article explores the possibility of using liability rule-like approaches to more efficiently allocate these entitlements between states and local governments.
SolarTech Industry Analysis in collaboration with the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA). January 2010.In this study SolarTech provided the specific recommendations describing the institutional barriers inhibiting the market acceleration of PV to meet the California Solar Initiative (CSI) goals. This report focuses on proposing methodologies for improving overall project end-to-end cycle times for distributed generation PV projects.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2010.This report focuses on the U.S. solar electricity market, including photovoltaic (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. The report provides an overview of global and U.S. installation trends. It also presents production and shipment data, material and supply chain issues, and solar industry employment trends. It also presents cost, price, and performance trends; and discusses policy and market drivers such as recently passed federal legislation, state and local policies, and developments in project financing. The final chapter provides data on private investment trends and near-term market forecasts.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2010.State decision makers have encountered arguments that state-level feed-in tariffs (FITs) are preempted by federal law. These arguments arise because the FIT transaction is a wholesale sale of electricity, from renewable seller to retail utility (which could trigger the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) and/or the Federal Power Act of 1935 (FPA)). Each of these statutes does in fact limit the discretion of state-level tariff designers. State utility commissions, in conjunction with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), asked the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to explore how states can lawfully implement feed-in tariffs. This report seeks to reduce the legal uncertainties for states contemplating feed-in tariffs by explaining the constraints imposed by federal statutes.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. December 2009.Although the market for insurance products that cover photovoltaic (PV) systems is evolving rapidly, PV developers in the United States are concerned about the cost and availability of insurance. Annual insurance premiums can be a significant cost component, and can affect the price of power and competition in the market. Moreover, the market for certain types of insurance products is thin or non-existent, and insurers’ knowledge about PV systems and the PV industry is uneven. PV project developers, insurance brokers, underwriters, and other parties interviewed for this research identified specific problems with the current insurance market for PV systems in the United States and suggested government actions that could facilitate the development of this market through better testing, data collection, and communication.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. December 2009.Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) can be used by public entities to finance renewable electricity projects. This fact sheet explains how CREBs work, how they can be implemented (particularly for the “new” CREBs program), provides guidance to CREBs issuers, analyzes CREBs compared to more traditional tax exempt bonds, and identifies challenges with the CREBs program.
California Energy Commission's New Solar Homes Partnership. December 2009.This Tool Kit provides an array of strategies and options that local governments can implement to help encourage solar developments in their region, including amending general plans, incentivizing energy efficiency measures and solar installations, and educating local home builders about existing solar incentives. It also includes model ordinances and resolutions to help local governments promote solar development.
California Energy Commission’s New Solar Homes Partnership. December 2009.The tool kit contains an array of strategies and options that local governments can implement to help encourage solar developments. It discusses incentive and rebate options, focusing on streamlined permitting and permit fee reductions or waivers for solar energy installations, and also includes a model ordinance for a permit fee waiver for residential solar installations.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. December 2009.This guide identifies the important aspects of building design and construction to enable installation of solar systems after the building is constructed. It discusses important system requirements for PV, SWH, and SVP systems. Attention to these guidelines when developing building codes or any building- or community-related regulations, as well as during building design, could significantly improve the performance and minimize the cost of solar systems.
California Energy Commission’s New Solar Homes Partnership. December 2009.This tool kit contains an array of strategies and options that local governments can use to help encourage solar developments. It also discusses approaches for promoting solar through a local green building program. Also included is a model ordinance to adopt a solar energy education program to inform local builders and developers of the benefits and incentives of integrating solar energy technologies into new residential developments.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. December 2009.This report examines the break-even cost for residential rooftop PV technology, defined as the point where the cost of PV-generated electricity equals the cost of electricity purchased from the grid. The break-even cost for the largest 1,000 utilities in the United States as of late 2008 and early 2009 are examined. This report can help communities understand the economics behind potential solar growth rates in their areas.
Clean Energy States Alliance. December 2009.This report describes the many financing options available to state energy offices, municipal governments, and other energy agencies for utilizing public funds for clean energy project support. The report analyzes their strengths and weaknesses and identifies best practices. One key finding is that,
while each tool has its own strengths and weaknesses, the use of these tools as a portfolio of approaches creates the most robust, effective programs.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. November 2009.The third-party PPA model allows a developer to build and own a PV system on the customer’s property and sell the power back to the customer (who avoids most or all initial costs, as well as operations and maintenance responsibilities). However, third-party electricity sales face regulatory and legislative challenges in some states and jurisdictions. Several of these challenges pertain to whether third-party owners are deemed to act as monopoly utilities, competitive electricity suppliers, or both depending on the degree of retail electricity market deregulation. If third-party owners are deemed to act similarly, according to state definitions or state public utility commission (PUC) definitions, the third-party owners may also need to be regulated by the state PUC. This report explores these challenges and identifies legislative and regulatory solutions that have been used to help third-party electricity sellers avoid PUC regulation.
SolarTech. November 2009.The PPA accompanying guide describes in layperson terminology the crucial clauses and terms and provides guidance on how to best use the PPA and Site Lease Contract Templates.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November 2009.IREC’s model interconnection standard incorporates the best practices of small-generator interconnection standards developed by various state governments, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and the Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative (MADRI).
Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC), Vote Solar Initiative, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, North Carolina Solar Center, Solar Alliance. November 2009.This report outlines the best and worst practices in state net-metering and interconnection policies.
Network for New Energy Choices. November 2009.A policy guide that grades states on their current net metering and interconnection practices. Together these two policies empower energy customers to use solar and other renewables to meet their own electricity needs. This third edition finds that, although net metering and interconnection policies still vary widely, states have made significant strides in adopting the best practices that drive renewable energy market growth and job creation.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. November 2009.This paper summarizes five common regulatory challenges for third party PPA financing, when they occur, and how they have been addressed in five states. This paper also presents alternative to the third-party ownership PPA finance model, including solar leases, contractual intermediaries, standardized contract language, federal investment tax credits, clean renewable energy bonds, and waived monopoly powers.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2009.Since IREC’s model procedures were last updated in late 2006, IREC has identified several important evolutions in best practices that it has synthesized into these updated model interconnection procedures. Among the important advances incorporated into these model procedures are: clarifying that third party ownership of facilities is permissible, raising the Level 1 system size eligibility from 10 kilowatts to 25 kilowatts, allowing online applications, addressing state-jurisdictional facilities over ten megawatts, and updating provisions related to network interconnections.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2009.These model net metering rules incorporate updated lessons learned and best practices since IREC's first release in 2003. Among the important advances in net metering rules incorporated within the model IREC rule are: increase in the size of systems eligible for net metering, expansion of program capacity caps, meter aggregation, and accommodation of third-party ownership of net metered systems.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2009.This guide provides a comprehensive introduction to a span of topics that relate to grid-tied renewable energy sources. The sixth edition has been revised to include information on IREC's recently updated model procedures, alternative billing arrangements for net metering, energy storage and several other emerging issues in the field. This guide is designed for state regulators and other policymakers, utilities, industry representatives and consumers interested in the development of state-level interconnection and net metering policies.
J. Dunlop, Solar Today. October 2009.This article discusses solar installer qualifications that should be considered by state and local governments to ensure safe installations that meet local code.
J. Weissman, Solar Today. October 2009.This article discusses the various types of credentials for solar installers, and clears up misunderstandings of the terms certification, certificate, accreditation, and licensure.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2009.The IREC rules incorporate best practices and compile them into a template that regulators and utilities can use as a starting point when drafting local rules.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2009.This fact sheet provides information and guidance on a PV PPA, a financing mechanism that state and local government entities can use to acquire clean, renewable energy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2009.This fact sheet addresses the financial, logistical, and legal questions relevant to implementing PPAs for PV installations.
Blake Gleason, Solar Pro Magazine. October 2009.This article defines in detail what is involved in a thorough commissioning process, describing different roles involved and the documentation, tasks, and tools required.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. October 2009.This report summarizes trends in the installed cost of grid-connected PV systems in the United States from 1998 through 2008.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2009.This report examines the status of renewable energy development at the state level. It also compiles and evaluates the status of best-practice state policy design and proposes a strategy for better understanding the role of policy in renewable energy development based on market-transformation principles.
Middle Class Task Force, Council on Environmental Quality, Vice President of the United States; Executive Office of the President of the United States. October 2009.This report discusses the energy-saving and job-creation opportunities offered by a comprehensive and national energy efficiency retrofit program. PACE financing is cited as a primary mechanism to finance this initiative.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. October 2009.The expedited permitting process described in this report simplifies the technical requirements for PV contractors submitting an application for construction of a new PV system while also facilitating the efficient review of the application’s electrical and structural content by the local jurisdiction awarding the permit.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2009.This fact sheet provides information and guidance on the third-party owned solar PV power purchase agreement, which can be used by state and local government entities to acquire clean, renewable energy. The government agency enters into a long-term contract (typically referred to as the PPA) to purchase 100% of the electricity generated by the system from the system owner. This fact sheet — which is written to support decision makers in U.S. state and local governments — addresses the financial, logistical, and legal questions relevant to implementing a PPA.
Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL), University of California, Berkeley. September 2009.This "how to" guide is designed for local government officials, local government decision-makers, state policymakers, and civil society groups interested in getting an energy financing district program established in their region.
Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL), University of California, Berkeley. September 2009.This comprehensive guide to PACE programs addresses topics such as financing, marketing, legal issues, and program administration. It also contains a number of helpful case studies.
The City of Portland. August 2009.A map of solar activity in Portland and the region.
Clean Energy Group and SmartPower. August 2009.Effective marketing guides the presentation of product information consumers, with the ultimate goal of persuading consumers to make a particular purchase. This guide explains the classic elements of marketing and the lens they offer for assessing programs that support solar technology deployment. It also identifies market barriers facing solar and how marketing strategies can be used to overcome them.
SmartPower. August 2009.The report, based on recent research, informs states on how they can act more like retail marketers to establish the financial and energy value of solar technology for the consumer. According to the new solar marketing report, use of effective marketing strategies is the key to attracting new customers to solar and bringing this smart technology into the mainstream.
CH2MHILL. July 2009.This report examines the opportunities that exist in Milwaukee to promote the development of solar manufacturing activities, primarily for solar hot water related components.
U.S. Department of Energy. July 2009.The U.S. Department of Energy developed this comprehensive resource to assist
local governments and stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets.
The guide introduces a range of policy and program options that have been successfully
field tested in cities around the country.
The guide describes each policy or program, explains the benefits, provides implementation
tips and options, and includes short examples from local governments across
the U.S.
Clean Energy Group. July 2009.Effective marketing guides how, when, and where product information is presented to consumers, with the ultimate goal to persuade consumers to purchase a particular brand or product. This guide explains the classic elements of marketing—the 4 Ps (Product, Price, Place, Promotion—and the lens they provide for assessing programs that support solar technology deployment. Additionally, the guide identifies market barriers facing solar and how marketing strategies can be used to address these obstacles.
Bright Power, Inc.. July 2009.The goal of this study is to evaluate the validity of this concept: The coincidence of high electric energy prices and peak PV output can improve the economics of PV installations and facilitate the wider use of hourly pricing. The study focuses on Con Edison’s electric service territory in New York City.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2009.A solar PV mapping tool visually represents a specific site and calculates PV system size and projected electricity production. This paper identifies the commercially available solar mapping tools and provides a thorough summary of the source data type and resolution, the visualization software program being used, user inputs, calculation methodology and algorithms, map outputs, and development costs for each map.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2009.This report defines a FIT policy, explores U.S. FIT policy design, and highlights a few of the best practices in FIT policy design. It also explores how FITs can be used to target state policy goals and examines policy interactions with other renewable energy policies. The report includes an overview of FIT effects (jobs and economic development) in Europe.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2009.A PV mapping tool visually represents a specific site and calculates PV system size and projected electricity production. This report identifies several commercially available solar mapping tools and gives a thorough summary of the source data type and resolution, the visualiza¬tion software program used, user inputs, calculation methodology and algorithms, map outputs, and development costs for each map.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2009.A PV mapping tool visually represents a specific site and calculates PV system size and projected electricity production. This report identifies the commercially available solar mapping tools and thoroughly summarizes the source data type and resolution, the visuali-zation software program being used, user inputs, calculation methodology and algorithms, map outputs, and development costs for each map.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. June 2009.This report defnes a FIT policy, explores U.S. FIT policy design, and highlights a few of the best practices in FIT policy
design. It also explores how FITs can be used to target state policy goals and examines policy interactions with other
renewable energy policies. The report includes an overview of FIT efects (jobs and economic development) in Europe.
American Solar Energy Society. May 2009.This report serves as a tool for municipalities and organizations that are exploring programs to facilitate the installation of solar energy technologies at the local level. The report discusses programs being implemented in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Madison. Program design considerations, lessons learned from program administrators, and recommendations to consider when designing a municipal assistance program are included, but no program design is prescribed. Recommendations should be customized to serve the needs of a specific market.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2009.This report defines a FIT policy, explores U.S. FIT policy design, and highlights a few of the best practices in FIT policy design. It also explores how FITs can be used to target state policy goals and examines policy interactions with other renewable energy policies. An overview of FIT impacts (jobs and economic development) in Europe is included.
American Solar Energy Society. May 2009.This report is a tool for municipalities and organizations interested in assisting residents and businesses in going solar. It includes program design considerations, lessons learned from program administrators, and recommendations to consider when designing a municipal assistance program.
University of California, Berkeley. April 2009.The Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) Financing Seminar held in Berkeley, California, in April 2009 featured experts on municipal financing of clean energy. Program managers from Berkeley, Palm Desert, Sonoma County, and Boulder discussed their experiences with implementing clean energy financing programs, including property tax financing programs.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. April 2009.This report examines case studies of PV systems integrated into secondary network distribution systems. It includes findings from case studies conducted in San Francisco, California; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; and New York City, New York.
Internal Revenue Service. April 2009. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. April 2009.This report examines case studies of PV systems integrated into secondary network distribution systems. It includes findings from case studies conducted in San Francisco, California; Washington, D.C.; Denver, Colorado; and New York City.
University of California, Berkeley. April 2009.The RAEL Financing Seminar held in Berkeley, California, featured experts on municipal financing of clean energy. Program managers from Berkeley, Palm Desert, and Sonoma County, California, and Boulder, Colorado, discussed their experiences with implementing clean energy financing programs, including PACE financing programs.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. April 2009.This fact sheet provides an overview of the residential solar lease and compares it to a cash purchase and system financed through a home equity loan.
New York City Office of Emergency Management. April 2009."Historically, gasoline or diesel-powered generators have provided the only option to support
emergency power needs. With significant recent improvements, solar technology can not only
help communities meet goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but can also assist in
mitigating the devastating effects of a disaster. This project focuses..."
University of California, Berkeley, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This PowerPoint presentation highlights major findings from a survey conducted by the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) about the most important purchasing considerations for Berkeley residents and businesses that are thinking about installing solar energy technologies. The City of Berkeley used the results of this study to shape its BerkeleyFIRST financing program and its SmartSolar Program.
Clean Energy States Alliance. March 2009.The Clean Energy Group (CEG) runs the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), which is a nonprofit organization with members from states with clean energy funds and state agencies. CESA provides information and technical services to its members and works with them to build and expand clean energy markets in the United States. This paper summarizes innovative grant-making approaches and practices that have worked effectively for clean energy programs at the state level.
Clean Energy States Alliance. March 2009.This paper summarizes innovative approaches and practices that have worked effectively for providing small renewable project incentives at the state level.
DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program. March 2009.This five-page report gives an overview of solar access and solar rights issues and recommends ordinances and enforcement mechanisms for the City of Denver.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This report explores the design and implementation of feed-in tariff policies, including a policy definition, various payment structures, and payment differentiation options. The report also discusses the interaction between FIT and RPS policies.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This report presents the information that homeowners and policy makers need to facilitate PV financing at the residential level. It covers the full range of cash payments, bill savings, tax incentives, and potentially available solar attribute payments. Traditional financing is compared with innovative solutions, many of which are borrowed from the commercial sector. By calling attention to these innovative initiatives, this report aims to help policy makers consider greater adoption of these models to benefit homeowners interested in installing a residential PV system.
Clean Energy States Alliance. March 2009.This paper summarizes innovative approaches and practices that have worked effectively for providing small renewable project incentives at the state level.
Clean Energy Group and Clean Energy States Alliance. March 2009.This paper summarizes innovative loan approaches and practices that have worked effectively to advance clean energy programs at the state level.
Prepared by Hannah Muller for GreenPoint Denver. March 2009.This report gives an overview of solar access and solar rights issues and recommends ordinances and enforcement mechanisms for Denver.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This report explores the design and implementation of FIT policies, including a policy definition, various payment structures, and payment differentiation options. The report also discusses the interaction between FIT and RPS policies.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This report explores the design and implementation of FIT policies, including a policy defnition, various payment
structures, and payment diferentiation options. The report also discusses the interaction between FIT and RPS policies.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. March 2009.This report presents the information that homeowners and policy makers need to facilitate PV financing at the residential level. The full range of cash payments, bill savings, and tax incentives is covered, as well as potentially available solar attribute payments. Traditional financing is also compared with innovative solutions, many of which...
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. February 2009.This publication examines the solar lease option for residential PV systems and describes two solar lease programs already in place. As a result of the $2,000 cap on the residential ITC being lifted in 2009, the expansion of the solar lease model across the United States may be slower than anticipated. The lease model, though, still offers homeowners some distinct advantages. This publication helps homeowners revisit the comparison between the solar lease and home-equity financing in light of the change to the ITC.
Boulder County. February 2009.Boulder County’s proposal to its Board of Commissioners contains information about the background of the ClimateSmart Loan Program, outlines key elements of the program, and requests direction from the board on specific program design features.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. February 2009.This publication examines the solar lease option for residential PV systems and describes two existing solar lease programs, and helps homeowners revisit the comparison between the solar lease and home-equity financing.
Sonoma County Energy Independence Program. January 2009.This six-page summary explains the financing process for participants in the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP).
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2009.This report examines the utility-accessible external disconnect switch debate in the context of utility-interactive PV systems for residential and small commercial PV installations. It focuses on safety, reliability, and cost implications of requiring an external disconnect switch.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. January 2009.This report examines the role of financial innovation in PV market penetration. It looks at how financing structures currently being used to support nonresidential PV deployment have, in part, emerged and evolved as a way to extract the most value from a patchwork of federal and state policy initiatives.
American Solar Energy Society, Management Information Services. January 2009.This report includes industry data through 2007 to forecast job growth in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries throughout the United States using a case study from experiences in Colorado.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development. January 2009.This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of implementing a community solar project. It focuses on the Northwest, but has in-depth case studies, project economics, and information on various state and federal incentives.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. January 2009.TThis guide is designed for state regulators and other policymakers, utilities, industry representatives, and consumers interested in the development of state-level interconnection standards.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. January 2009.This report examines the role of financial innovation in PV market penetration. It discusses how financing structures used to support nonresi¬dential PV deployment have, in part, emerged and evolved as a way to extract the most value from a patchwork of federal and state policy initiatives.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2009.This slide deck was developed by NREL to train site assessors for the City and County of San Francisco. The presentation includes information on how to perform a site assessment for PV and SWH technologies, how to size a system, roof and electrical safety, and tools to use on a site assessment.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2009.This slide deck was developed by NREL to train site assessors for the City and County of San Francisco. The presentation includes information on how to perform a site assessment for PV and SWH technologies, how to size a system, roof and electrical safety, and tools to use on a site assessment.
Sarah Truitt, Kevin Lynn, Sentech Inc.. January 2009.This paper is intended to serve as a tool for municipalities and organizations examining programs to facilitate the installation of solar energy technologies at the local level – no specific program design is prescribed. Readers will be informed about program design considerations, valuable lessons learned, and recommendations to consider when designing a municipal assistance program. Recommendations should be customized to serve the needs of a specific market.
The City of Austin, CH2M HILL. December 2008.The methodology and results of the Austin solar policy benchmarking project are published in this report, showing how the policies in place in Austin compare with those considered best-in-class for promoting solar energy.
U.S. Department of Energy. December 2008.The DOE Building Technologies Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) published this guide to assist homebuilders contemplating solar-ready or solar homes. This guide helps homebuilders gather the information necessary to determine whether to install solar energy systems on homes or to make homes solar-ready and helps quantify the benefits for home buyers.
Sierra Club. December 2008.This study compares the progress of 131 municipalities in Northern California striving to make permit fees for solar energy installations affordable. The report includes a detailed list of recommendations for municipalities interested in reducing permit fees and streamlining the permitting process.
U.S. Department of Energy. December 2008.This guide assists homebuilders who are contemplating solar-ready or solar homes. It helps them decide whether to install solar energy systems on homes or to make homes solar ready, and helps quantify the benefits for home buyers.
Sierra Club. December 2008.This study compares the progress of 131 municipalities in Northern California striving to make permit fees for residential solar energy installations affordable. The report includes a detailed list of recommendations for municipalities interested in reducing permit fees and streamlining the permitting process.
U.S. Department of Energy. December 2008. U.S. Department of Energy. November 2008. Rahus Institute. October 2008.This guide provides an explanation of the rapidly growing power purchase agreement business model where a “solar services provider” installs the solar equipment at a university, business, or other organization, and the organization pays only for the solar electricity. Using a reader-friendly style and colorful graphics, the straightforward, easy-to-understand digital guide will help organizations throughout the United States understand whether a solar power purchase agreement is right for them, and if so, how to proceed.
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. October 2008.EERE Network News covers national and international energy efficiency and renewable energy news and events. This article contains information about recent growth in U.S. manufacturing of solar cells and modules.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute. October 2008.The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress. The institute’s charter is to disseminate timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set the United States on a cleaner and more secure and sustainable energy path. This fact sheet reports the major findings from job-creation studies in the renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy industries.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. October 2008.The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) is one of the major projects of the DOE Solar Energy Technology Program’s (SETP) market transformation efforts. Solar ABCs was created as a central body to address solar codes and standards issues. This comprehensive review of solar access law across the United States suggests standards for a model statute and ordinance.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2008.This report documents green power marketing activities and trends in the United States, focusing on consumer decisions to purchase electricity supplied from renewable energy sources.
Network for New Energy Choices, Vote Solar Initiative, Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2008.This report outlines the best and worst practices in state net-metering and interconnection policies.
Vote Solar Initiative. October 2008.This report describes the Berkeley model for property tax assessment financing, noting its benefits and potential pitfalls, and serves as a primer for policy makers for implementing this option in their communities.
City of Berkeley. October 2008.This report contains a detailed account of the planning process Berkeley followed to design a local solar initiative. The plan also includes programmatic details for the Berkeley Solar Initiative.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2008.This report examines the status of renewable energy development at the state level. It also compiles and evaluates the status of best-practice state policy design and proposes a strategy for better understanding the role of policy in renewable energy development based on market transformation principles.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. October 2008.The Solar America Board for Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) is a DOE-funded central body created to address solar codes and standards issues. This comprehensive review of solar access law across the United States suggests standards for a model statute and ordinance.
Environmental and Energy Study Institute. October 2008.The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 by a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress. The institute’s charter is to disseminate timely information and develop innovative policy solutions that set the United States on a cleaner and more secure and sustainable energy path. This fact sheet reports the major findings from job-creation studies in the renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy industries.
The Rahus Institute. October 2008.This is a guide for organizations interested in purchasing solar electricity without buying the equipment. It explains this rapidly growing business model under which a solar services provider installs the solar equipment at a university, business, or other organization, and the organization pays only for the solar electricity.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards, Interstate Renewable Energy Council. October 2008.This report reviews four sets of interconnection procedures that regulators often consider when developing state and local procedures. As a framework for review, the report uses the grading criteria developed by the Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) and used that organization’s review of state interconnection procedures.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. October 2008.This report reviews four sets of interconnection procedures that regulators often consider when developing state and local procedures.
DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program. October 2008.This report serves as a guide for cities to create a comprehensive, city-wide solar plan for their community that facilitates mainstream adoption of solar and serves as a model for other cities to follow.
The Vote Solar Initiative. October 2008.This paper describes the Berkeley model for property tax assessment financing, noting its benefits and potential pitfalls, and provides policy makers with a primer for implementing this option in communities across America.
City of Berkeley. October 2008. Network for New Energy Choices. September 2008.The Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) reviews a wide variety of political perspectives and priorities expressed in a range of local permitting rules in this publication. The report suggests how existing rules can be altered to support growing renewable energy markets.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards, Interstate Renewable Energy Council. September 2008.This report documents the safe operation of PV systems without a utility external disconnect switch in several large jurisdictions. It includes recommendations for regulators contemplating utility external disconnect switch requirements.
Navigant Consulting. September 2008.This report, prepared for the Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation, includes forecasts on the number of jobs resulting from an extension of the federal solar tax credit.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. September 2008.This report provides recommended training guidelines, training criteria, assessment tools, task analyses, credentialing programs, and other related resources for renewable energy training programs. The report includes recommended facilities, hardware, and materials for PV and SWH training programs.
CH2M HILL. September 2008.The City of Ann Arbor, CH2M HILL, Sandia National Laboratories, and NREL conducted solar site evaluations and trainings at five municipal properties in Ann Arbor. This report includes a detailed report from each site evaluated, financial analysis for the three best sites for solar, recommendations on a framework for future site evaluations, and summary of the training that occurred during the site evaluations.
Solar America Board for Codes and Standards, Interstate Renewable Energy Council. September 2008.This report documents the safe operation of PV systems without a utility external disconnect switch in several large jurisdictions. It includes recommendations for regulators contemplating utility external disconnect switch requirements.
Navigant Consulting. September 2008.This report, prepared for the Solar Energy Research and Education Foundation, includes forecasts on the number of jobs resulting from an extension of the federal solar tax credit.
CH2M HILL. September 2008.The city of Ann Arbor, CH2M HILL, Sandia National Laboratories, and NREL conducted solar site evaluations and trainings at five municipal properties in Ann Arbor. This report includes a detailed report from each site evaluated, financial analysis for the three best sites for solar, recommendations on a framework for future site evaluations, and a summary of the training given during the site evaluations.
Network for New Energy Choices. September 2008.The Network for New Energy Choices reviews a wide variety of political perspectives and priorities expressed in a range
of local permitting rules in this publication. The report suggests how existing rules can be altered to support growing
renewable energy markets.
Network for New Energy Choices. September 2008.In this report, the Network for New Energy Choices reviews a wide variety of political perspectives and priorities expressed in a range of local permitting rules. The report suggests how existing rules can be altered to support growing renewable energy markets.
Ballard Spahr Andrews Ingersoll and Zions Bank. September 2008.This study provides a detailed evaluation of possible financing options for solar projects on county facilities, available incentives, and key barriers to implementation of the various options.
GSBS Architects. September 2008.This study provides an overview of solar electric and solar thermal application possibilities on the rooftops of existing county buildings in various county divisions.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. August 2008.This paper examines utility experiences when offering the fixed-price benefits of renewable energy in green pricing programs, including the methods used and the impact on program participation.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2008.This report uses 2007 PV system data collected from two city facilities in San Diego to illustrate the impact of binomial rate designs. It includes a financial analysis of PV-system output under various utility rate structures.
North Carolina Solar Center, Heinrich Boll Foundation, World Future Council. May 2008.This report reviews FIT legislation enacted and proposed across the United States and discusses the implications of a federal FIT policy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2008.This report examines the opportunities and challenges with deploying PV on public-sector buildings and lands.
North Carolina Solar Center, Heinrich Boll Foundation, World Future Council. May 2008.This report reviews FIT legislation enacted and proposed across the United States and discusses the implications of a
federal FIT policy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2008.This report examines the opportunities and challenges faced when deploying PV on public-sector buildings and land.
North Carolina Solar Center, Heinrich Boll Foundation, World Future Council. May 2008.This report reviews FIT legislation enacted and proposed across the United States and discusses the implications of a federal FIT policy.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. May 2008.This paper uses 2007 PV system data collected from two city facilities in San Diego to illustrate the effect of binomial rate designs. It includes a financial analysis of PV-system output under various utility rate structures.
Portland Bureau of Development Services. May 2008. Portland Bureau of Development Services. May 2008. Clean Energy Group. April 2008.This publication provides a roadmap of actions for states to effectively mainstream solar electricity.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. April 2008.This report—the first in a regular series—contains information on design, early experience, and projected impacts of RPS policies in the United States.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. April 2008.This report contains information on design, early experience, and projected effects of RPS policies in the United States.
Clean Energy Group. April 2008.This report describes a road map of actions states can take to effectively bring solar electricity into the mainstream.
Berkeley FIRST. March 2008. Berkeley's Solar and Energy Efficiency Initiative. March 2008. Stoel Rives LLP. March 2008.This guide contains insights gained from practical experience assisting participants in numerous PV projects covering a diverse range of sizes and installations, as well as from 15 years of experience serving the U.S. renewable energy industry.
Solar Electric Power Association. March 2008.Working with IREC, the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) surveyed 63 utilities about interconnecting and metering residential PV systems. The study explains how utilities with many PV systems operating in their territories are treating metering, interconnection, documentation, and fees.
Solar Electric Power Association. March 2008.Working with IREC, the Solar Electric Power Association surveyed 63 utilities about interconnecting and metering residential PV systems. The study explains how utilities with many PV systems operating in their territories are treating metering, interconnection, documentation, and fees.
Vote Solar Initiative, Center for American Progress. January 2008.This report includes case studies of four states that have effectively developed robust solar markets. Model policies included in this report provide guidance to states interested in building thriving solar markets.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2008.This report examines the utility-accessible external disconnect switch debate in the context of utility-interactive PV systems for residential and small commercial PV installations. It focuses on safety, reliability, and cost implications of requiring an external disconnect switch.
Stoel Rives LLP. January 2008.This guide contains insights gained from practical experience in numerous PV projects covering a diverse range of sizes and installations, and from more than 15 years of experience serving the U.S. renewable energy industry. Available for free download after registering on the site.
Vote Solar Initiative, Center for American Progress. January 2008.This report includes case studies of four states that have developed robust solar markets. Policies described in the report serve as models for a state interested in building a thriving solar market
The Brookings Institute. January 2008.This report quantifies for the first time the amount and most significant sources of carbon emitted—from highway transportation and residential energy consumption—by the 100 largest metropolitan areas in 2000 and 2005.
Clean Energy Group. December 2007.This program guide outlines straightforward strategies to support the adoption of SWH technologies including financial incentives, installer training, and consumer education.
Clean Energy Group. December 2007.This program guide outlines straightforward strategies to support the adoption of solar water heating technologies, including financial incentives, installer training, and consumer education.
Berkeley Smart Solar Program. November 2007. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. July 2007.This report uses electricity load data and PV production data from 24 commercial PV installations to compare the value of the electric bill savings across 20 commercial-customer retail rates available in California. The report findings suggest that choices made by utility regulators when determining or revising retail rates can have a significant impact on the future viability of customer-sited commercial PV markets.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. July 2007.This report uses electricity load data and PV production data from 24 commercial PV installations to compare the value of the electric bill savings across 20 commercial-customer retail rates available in California. The report findings suggest that choices made by utility regulators when determining or revising retail rates can significantly affect the future viability of customer-sited commercial PV markets.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. January 2007.This guide addresses the primary issues associated with the interconnection of distributed generation (DG) to the electric grid. It includes discussions of safety, power quality and codes, legal and procedural issues, net metering, and electrical inspectors.
Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November 2006.IREC’s model interconnection standard incorporates the best practices of small-generator interconnection standards developed by various state governments, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and the Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative (MADRI).
National Renewable Energy Laboratory. October 2006.This report documents trends in green power marketing activities in the United States. The report presents aggregated sales data from all voluntary green power programs in the United States and contains summary data on utility green power programs and green power marketing activities.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. October 2006.This report examines PV incentive programs aimed at promoting PV system performance including (but not limited to) performance-based incentives (PBI) used in 32 states across the country.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. October 2006.This report examines PV incentive programs aimed at promoting PV system performance, including (but not limited to) PBIs used in 32 states across the country.
Pace University Law School, Renewable Energy Technology Analysis Project. March 2006.The guidelines in this report are a framework for inspecting and permitting PV systems. They are divided into two stages, plan checking and field inspection. The objective of these guidelines is to facilitate the installation of safe PV systems at minimal cost.
Pace University Law School, Renewable Energy Technology Analysis Project. March 2006.These guidelines are a framework for inspecting and permitting PV systems. They are divided into two stages: plan
checking and feld inspection. The objective of these guidelines is to facilitate the installation of safe PV systems at
minimal cost.
Pace University Law School, Renewable Energy Technology Analysis Project. March 2006.Guidelines included in this report form a framework for inspecting and permitting PV systems. Guidelines are divided into two stages: plan checking and field inspection. The objective of these guidelines is to facilitate the installation of safe PV systems at minimal cost.
The Energy Foundation, Navigant Consulting, Clean Power Research. September 2004.This report discusses market potential and barriers to the widespread deployment of rooftop PV in the United States, including information about states that are well positioned for rooftop PV deployment.
National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Developed in partnership with American Technical Publishers, the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) created a comprehensive textbook about the design, installation, and evaluation of residential and commercial PV systems. It covers the principles of PV and describes how to effectively incorporate PV systems into stand-alone or interconnected electrical systems. The content includes system advantages and disadvantages, site evaluation, component operation, system design and sizing, installation requirements, and recommended practices.
The Network for New Energy Choices reviews a wide variety of political perspectives and priorities expressed in a range of local permitting rules in this publication. The report suggests how existing rules can be altered to support growing renewable energy markets.
Solar America Communities / National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This fact sheet summarizes the content and features of the updated edition Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments.
Solar Minnesota & the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society. This comprehensive solar manual describes a step-by-step analysis of the process of developing a community solar project. It has several Minnesota case studies, but the guide is useful for anyone interested in a community solar project.
DOE / National Renewable Energy Laboratory, October 2010. This guide provides an overview of financing options that may be available to homeowners who are considering installing a solar electric system on their home or property.
