Solsmart Planning and Zoning Training

Amy Hollander Megan Day, AICP Andrew Valainis NREL Project Lead NREL Project Lead MREA Executive Director SolSmart Designaon Planning and Zoning Training August 29, 2017 National Renewable Energy Laboratory Montana Renewable Energy Association

Non-profit organization, founded 2001 Mission Expand the use of renewable energy in Montana Educate and inform the residents of Montana of the benefits and uses of renewable energy Affect public policy in favor of renewable energy

B.S. Ocean Engineering, B.A. Spanish from the University of Rhode Island Senior Design Project: “Siting an Offshore Wind Farm in Rhode Island Coastal Waters” Interned for a renewable energy firm in Spain studying noise generation from wind turbine blade Andrew Valainis technology Executive Director Montana SolSmart Designaon Training

Amy Hollander Project Leader National Renewable Energy Laboratory

August 28 & 29, 2017 Is Your Community Solar Ready?

Provide a Solar Statement Earn SolSmart Bronze •Earn SolSmart Silver outlining solar goals, and commit staﬀ me to Allow accessory use •3 day turnaround promote solar and to solar PV by right in all me on solar permit tracking key metrics (PR-1) major zones-wrien issuance (P-2) Solar Perming Checklist in your code (PZD-2) •Earn 200 points. (P-2) Cross training of Pledge to bring model solar inspecon and code suggesons to the perming staﬀ on next planning/zoning solar PV via in-person meeng (PZD-1a) or online. (I-1) Earn 60 total points Earn 100 total points PV Soft Costs Local Governments can play a big role in lowering PV so-costs

• Streamlining perming & inspecon processes • Fees • Planning and Zoning • Ulity outreach • Contractor outreach • Consumer Educaon The Cost of Solar PV

US Average Installed Cost for Residenal PV

$14.00

$12.15

$12.00

$10.00 Average modeled solar PV cost for $8.00 2016 is $2.89/W Cost to install solar has $6.00 dropped by more than 60% in the past 10 years. $4.00 $2.89

$2.00

$- 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Source: Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)

Tracking the Sun VIII: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the US from 1998-2014 (LBNL) Why Soft Costs?

Average modeled solar PV cost for 2016 is $2.89/W

Soft costs still account for 67% of all solar costs.

Source: Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA)

Tracking the Sun VIII: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the US from 1998-2014 (LBNL) Is it Possible to Lower Soft Costs?

Comparison of US and German Solar Costs $4.00 $3.50 $3.00 $2.50 $2.00 Non-Hardware Cost $1.50 Hardware Cost $ per Watt Watt $ per $1.00 $0.50 $- US Solar Cost German Solar Cost

Source: NREL (http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/60412.pdf)

LBNL (http://emp.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/lbnl-6350e.pdf)(http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/sunshot_webinar_20130226.pdf ) The Cost of Solar in the US

Comparison of US and German Solar Costs $4.00 $3.50 $3.00 $2.50 Column1 $2.00 Profits, Taxes, & Non-Hardware Cost Overhead $1.50 Hardware Cost $ per Watt Watt $ per $1.00 $0.50 $- US Solar Cost German Solar Cost

Source: NREL (http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/60412.pdf)

LBNL (http://emp.lbl.gov/sites/all/files/lbnl-6350e.pdf)(http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/sunshot_webinar_20130226.pdf ) SunShot Cost Per Watt Goals

Change in Soft Costs and Hardware Costs Over Time $7.00 Soft Costs No change in soft costs between Hardware Costs $6.00 $3.32 2010 and 2012 Soft costs remain $5.00 nearly 2/3s of

$3.32 installed cost $4.00 $3.28

$/watt $3.00 2020 SunShot Goals: $1.50/W Residential

$2.00 $1.90 $1.25W Sm. Commercial $1.00/W for Utility Scale $1.00

$- 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Clean Power Finance Study Highlights: • More than 1 in 3 installers avoid selling solar in certain jurisdicons due to diﬃcult perming processes • Perming varies widely and usually involves 2 (somemes as many as 5) agencies, each with diﬀerent processes • 11 percent of installaons encounter a situaon where requirements for solar perming have not even been set Benefits of Reducing Soft Costs

Unleash American business § 8,601 U.S. businesses comprise the solar value chain. All but a handful are small businesses. § Installers avoid mulple jurisdicons in their service areas based on onerous perming. Create American jobs § One in ﬁy jobs created in 2016 was in the solar industry. 1 § Clean Energy employs almost 5 mes what fossil fuel jobs supply for the electric industry. 2

29.4 15.8 2.8 jobs Residenal jobs Non- jobs Ulity scale solar residenal solar solar

Sources: 1) Clean Power Finance; The Solar Foundation

2 )DOE 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report

SolSmart Designees - 95 As of 8/28/2017

• Adams County, CO • Jeﬀerson County, CO • Atlanta, GA • Kansas City, MO • Albemarle County, VA • Melrose, MA • Ames, IA • Ausn, TX • Lafayee, CO • Athens-Clarke County, GA • Miami-Dade, FL • Boulder County, CO • Beaverton, OR • Louisville, KY • Aurora, CO • Moab, UT • Duluth, MN • Boulder, CO • Madison, WI • Burlington, VT • Nappanee, IN • Indianapolis, IN • Carrboro, NC • Milwaukee, WI • Cambridge, MA • Nack, MA • Linn County, IA • Charleston County, SC • Minneapolis, MN • Chapel Hill, NC • Oklahoma City, OK • Oro Valley, AZ • Chicago, IL • New York, NY • Charloesville, VA • Orlando, FL • Orange County, NC • Claremont, CA • Philadelphia, PA • Contra Costa County, CA • Perry, IA • Pinecrest, FL • Columbia, MO • Pima County, AZ • Dartmouth, MA • Plano, TX • Providence, RI • Coventry, CT • Redwood City, CA • DeKalb County, GA • Raymore, MO • Cuperno, CA • Sacramento, CA • Edgemont, PA • Salt Lake City, UT • Davis, CA • Saint Paul, MN • Edmonds, WA • San Antonio, TX • Denver, CO • San Carlos, CA • Franklin County, OH • Savannah, GA • El Paso, TX • Santa Monica, CA • Inyo County, CA • Summit County, UT • Fort Collins, CO • Santa Rosa, CA • Lincoln, NE • West Hollywood, CA • Fremont, CA • Satellite Beach, FL • Maricopa County, AZ • Will County, IL • Gladstone, MO • Somerville, MA • Marin County, CA • Winthrop, MA • Goshen, IN • Sonoma County, CA • Harord, CT • Washington, DC • Hillsboro, OR • Ypsilan, MI • Hunngton Beach, CA SolSmart Program Structure

SolSmart Program

TA Delivery Designation Program Expertise TA Delivery

TA Pipeline Solar Outreach Experience No-Cost Technical Assistance

§ All communies pursuing SolSmart designaon are eligible for no-cost technical assistance from naonal solar experts.

Technical Assistance Topics Perming Solar Rights

Planning & Zoning Ulity Engagement

Inspecons Community Engagement

Construcon Codes Market Development & Finance Streamlined Solar Perming

Best Pracces & Consideraons IREC Best Pracces • Post Requirements online • Implement an expedited/ simplified permit process • Enable online permit processing • Ensure a fast turnaround me • Collect reasonable perming fees • Do not require community specific licenses • Offer a narrow inspecon appointment window • Eliminate excessive inspecons • Train perming staff in solar Online Resource: Residenal Solar Perming Best Pracces Explained Basic Permit Process with IREC Best Pracce Soluons

Applicaon Inspecons Pre-Applicaon Submial & Review

• Post all • Implement an • Offer a narrow requirements in a Expedited Permit inspecon searchable online process appointment perming check • Collect window list Reasonable • Eliminate • Don’t require Perming Fees Excessive community • Ensure a fast Inspecons specific licenses turnaround me • Combine building • Train perming • Offer online and electrical if staff in solar permit both are required processing Pre-Applicaon Phase Best Pracce: Train Perming Staff • Full or half-day workshops provided regularly (as technologies evolve or new people join the team)

• For buildings, perming and inspecon staﬀ.

• Earn I-1 credit for Silver designaon

Online Resource: U.S. Dept. of Energy and IREC PV Online Training Course for Code Oﬃcials Pre-Applicaon Phase Best Pracce: Perming Checklist -online

• One-stop locaon for residents, Benefits businesses and installers for • Reduces individualized obtaining a solar permit quesons • Clear descripon of the • Improve applicaon requirements including submissions the first me necessary forms, fees and • Helps manage expectaons inspecons • Improves communicaons • Should contain checklists for • Adds Consistency the applicaons and inspecon • Saves Staff Time and Money requirements for solar Applicaon Submial & Review Phase Best Pracce: Implement an expedited/simplified permit process

• Most systems, especially Benefits residenal, should be • Less confusion and processed quickly over the consistency (especially if counter or electronically implemented and within one day standardized regionally) • Set up a pre-qualificaon • Opens the possibility to for certain systems, plans or review certain sized systems installers over the counter efficiently • Solar America Board for • Improves turn-around me Codes and Standards (Solar and allows for staff to spend ABCs)- provides a framework more me on other projects for expedited review for • Saves me and money for typical residenal systems Online Resource: local governments, solar Solar American Board for Codes and contractors, and residents Standards (Solar ABCs)

Applicaon Submial & Review Phase Best Pracce: Collect reasonable perming fees

• Fees should reflect the Colorado Fee Examples: approximate cost for me and • City of Lafayee $63 flat fee staff to process the permit (includes Building & Electrical Inspecon)—plus city and county use • Should remain consistent over tax me regardless of system size • City of Aspen based on Valuaon • Residenal fee should be no $2,001 and above $115 plus $11.50/ more than $400 thousand or fracon thereof (max $500) • Colorado’s Fair Permit Act • Denver has a reduced fee capped at $500 residenal $50 $1,000 non-residenal Inspecon Phase

Best Pracce: Oﬀer a narrow inspecon appointment window

• Installers should be able to schedule an inspecon appointment at a precise me where possible • Should be kept at or below two-hour window and nofy the installers when the inspector is on his/her way Inspecon Phase Best Pracce: Eliminate excessive inspecons

• Allow for only one Example of City of Lafayee inspecon by the local working with Ulity government for a • Lafayee has integrated standard residenal or both electrical and business rooop system structural inspecons into one • Consider improving the • Ulity needs language on coordinaon and the ﬁnal inspecon card communicaon between that states ‘electrical’ was the city and the ulity completed regarding permit approval and interconnecon Solar Landing Page Consideraons: • Lead by Example Policy— Provide solar goals for the local government and the community • How does solar beneﬁt the community as a whole and individuals? • Provide solar metrics—e.g. installed capacity/capita • Market local solar rebates • Market solar workshops and/ or upcoming trainings • Provide Valid Solar Tools and Resources- solar potenal map, e.g. NREL PV Was or City of Brighten: Google Project Sunroof hp://www.brightonco.gov/915/Brighton-Solar • Link to the local AHJ solar City of Boulder: hps://bouldercolorado.gov/ permit process solar Solar Landing Page

Tools and Resources to consider having on your Solar Landing Page: • Google Project Sunroof – Googles Project Sunroof has made it easier to explore your home’s solar potenal by simply typing in your address. • COSEIA –The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Associaon provides opportunies for learning more about Colorado’s solar policy, provides educaon/outreach opportunies, and allows for Colorado’s solar businesses to have a voice in our state’s future. • Let’s Go Solar –Provides consumer friendly resources on going solar. • Solar Energy Industries Associaon Consumer Protecon – Besides providing consumer resources for going solar, SEIA provides an avenue for consumers to report complaints in violaon of SEIA Solar Business Code. If you have concerns or want to know more about your rights as a consumer, start with SEIA’s Consumer Protecon/Complaint Resoluon portal. • Energy Sage – Energy Sage’s primary purpose provides consumers a plaorm for requesng solar quotes from over 300 pre- screened solar installers saving you valuable me and money. • U.S. Dept. of Energy SunShot Iniave -The SunShot Iniave is a U.S. Dept. of Energy program which conducts research and collaborates with public and private partners for driving down the cost of solar. If you are interested to learn more about solar from a research perspecve, this is your go-to source. • NREL PV Was Calculator – The Naonal Renewable Energy Laboratory provides a free interacve map-based tool allowing you to esmate monthly and annual solar resources for your home or business, obtain performance esmates for grid-connected PV systems, and idenfies potenal incenves pertaining to your PV project. • DSIRE – The Database of State Incenves for Renewable & Efficiency is your go to for up-to-date renewable energy and energy efficiency policies and incenves. Simply type your zip code or search by state to explore which policies and or incenves are most applicable to you. List your ulity’s solar related incenves and programs before going solar.

Montana SolSmart Planning and Zoning Training

Megan Day, AICP Project Leader National Renewable Energy Laboratory

August 29, 2017 Zoning for Solar SolSmart Montana Webinar August 29, 2017 Megan Day, AICP, Project Leader, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Net metering – all customers of investor-owned ulies may net Montana meter solar energy systems up to 50 State kilowas (kW) in capacity. Generaon credited to next bill at Regulatory retail rate. Context Currently a Public Service Commission docket open to review costs and beneﬁts of customer generators that may result in a separate class of service and rates for these customers. hp://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/37 Ulity-scale PV – 2017 Public Service Commission ruling limits the Qualifying Facility term to 5 years under PURPA, which will limit large, grid-ed PV development. Solar access – No state solar access law Solar and the Zoning Code

A conspicuous silence on the part of local policies, plans, and regulaons on the topic of solar energy use constutes a signiﬁcant barrier to adopon and implementaon of these technologies.

–American Planning Associaon Solar Briefing Papers Best pracces in zoning for solar (PZD-1, PZD-2) Definion Include storage and solar hot water heang installaons and in the definion of “solar” or otherwise allow in the code Height Allow rooop solar an exempon from or allowance above building height restricons By-right accessory Allow small rooop and ground mount solar in all major zoning districts use Accessory uses Exempt solar from counng toward accessory uses maximum Aesthec • Exempt solar from rooop equipment screening requirements requirements • Allow PV installaons to be seen from public roadways (e.g. screening) • Limit screening or aesthec requirements to historic districts Ground -mounted • Include small ground-mounted systems as accessory structures • Require condional use permit for principal use, ground-mounted systems Lot coverage Exempt ground mount solar from lot coverage restricons that apply to buildings Setbacks Avoid applying principal building setbacks Roof coverage Include fire code setback requirements in coordinaon with fire officials Glare Glare studies not needed unless solar is on or adjacent to airport, in which case it will be regulated by FAA, not the local jurisdicon Regulate based • Not capacity (kW) as efficiencies and technologies change over me on impact/area • Not where used (e.g. on-site) as it has no bearing on the impact Definions

Solar Energy System: A device or structural design feature, a substanal purpose of which is to provide daylight for interior lighng or provide for the collecon, storage and distribuon of solar energy for space heang or cooling, electricity generaon, or water heang.

Solar Energy System, Large-Scale: Acve Solar Energy System that occupies more than 40,000 square feet of surface area.

Solar Energy System, Medium-Scale: Acve Solar Energy System that occupies more than 1,750 but less than 40,000 square feet of surface area.

Solar Energy System, Small-Scale: An Acve Solar Energy System that occupies 1,750 square feet of surface area or less. Deﬁnions Denver, CO

Deﬁnions Solar Panel, Flush Mounted: A solar energy collecon device mounted to the roof of a struc-ture in such a manner that the device is not more than one foot above the roof surface to which it is aached, and mounted so that the device plane is in a plane which is parallel to the surface of the roof to which it is aached. Furniture factory in Gardner, Massachuses, Photo: Bill Eager NREL Image Library 00566

Cuperno, CA Height Adams County, CO height allowance Lafayee, CO rooop height allowance

4-03-03-02-10 SOLAR ENERGY Sec. 26-14-8. - Height provisions. SYSTEM (c) Maximum height for 2. Maximum Height of Aached appurtenances. Except as may be Panels: Solar panels aached to a roof permied by shall not exceed the maximum secons 26-14-21 and 26-22.5-7 of this permied height of the structure type chapter, the maximum permied height of by more than ﬁve (5) feet. stacks, vents, antennae, cooling towers, 3. Maximum Height of Detached Solar elevator bulkheads, solar panels, tanks, Panels: Fieen (15) feet. monuments, cupolas, domes, towers, spires and similar mechanical and nonhabitable structural appurtenances shall be no more than ten (10) feet above the highest point of the principal building on the property in queson or ten (10) feet above the maximum permied height in the zone district, whichever is less

Aesthecs

Maplewood, MN AN ORDINANCE TO THE MAPLEWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS (Wind, Solar, Geothermal) Secon 4.c.4. Visibility Solar energy systems (SES) shall be designed to blend into the architecture of the building or be screened from roune view from public right-of-ways other than alleys. Northeast Denver Housing Center’s Whier Aﬀordable Housing Project Source: NREL/DOE Image 19188 Solar in Historic and Special-Use Districts More than 2,400 local jurisdicons have historic preservaon ordinances. (www.nps.gov/nr/)

Breckenridge, CO Within the Conservaon District: Solar panels and solar devices are encouraged to be installed on a non-historic building or building addion and integrated into the building design.

PZD-4 Provide clear guidance for solar in historic and special-use districts (10 points) Special Use and Historic Districts

Source: Plano, TX Downtown Heritage Resource District Design Standards

Roof Coverage Lafayee, CO Secon 611 is added to the Internaonal Fire Code to read as follows: 611 Solar Photovoltaic Installaons. 611.1. Roof Clearances for Installaon: a) Panels shall not be placed closer than 2'0" to the ridge of any roof. b) Panels shall be placed no closer than 2'0" to the head wall at the top of any roof slope. c) Panels shall be placed no closer than 18" from any roof valley. d) Addional roof access may be required based on unique site condions as determined by the Fire Department.

Best Pracce Ensure ﬁre safety with roof setbacks Roof Coverage

Source: 2010 Oregon Solar Installaon Specialty Code and Commentary hps://www.oregon.gov/bcd/codes-stand/Documents/2010_OSISC_commentary.pdf Glare

Most solar farms use PV modules to generate electricity. PV modules use non-reﬂecve glass and are designed to absorb rather than reﬂect the light that hits the panels in order to convert solar energy into electricity.

PV modules are generally less reﬂecve than windows and are installed at numerous airports.

Sun Edison PV array at the NWTC. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL 11249490 Principal use / Large-scale PV

Jacksonville Solar 15 MW – Jacksonville, FL

Photo: juwi solar Principal use / Large-scale PV

Street view: 19 MW, 118 acre solar farm, Arizona. Solar farm views generally limited to fence and ﬁrst row of modules.

Source: juwi solar Primary use / Large-Scale PV

• Less reﬂecve than water and windows and compable No glare with nearby residenal, oﬃce, or aviaon uses

• 45 decibels at 10 meters from the inverters, which is Very low noise slightly less noise than a refrigerator makes

• Photovoltaic modules are enclosed in glass, carry a 25 Safe year warranty, meet all applicable electrical and safety standards

• Far lower voltage than transmission lines – No EMF Low voltage impacts

hps://www.nrel.gov/tech_deployment/state_local_governments/blog/top-ﬁve-large-scale-solar-myths Lot Coverage Zoning codes and development regulaons can limit lot coverage on large lots to as lile as 10%. Principal use solar needs an exempon from such requirements.

Regulang Solar Energy Use in Code Adams County, Colorado

4-03-03-02-10 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM 1. Property Served: The solar energy system shall be designed to only provide energy for the property upon which it is located. However, excess energy may be sold as permied by state and federal law.

Regulang Solar Energy Use in Code Adams County, Colorado 4-03-03-02-10 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM 1. Property Served: The solar energy system shall be designed to only provide energy for the property upon which it is located. However, excess energy may be sold as permied by state and federal law.

Prevents shared or community solar installaons and primary use

Best Pracce Regulate impacts, not use

One of 1,500 customer-sited PV systems owned by APS Photo: Tom Tingle/The Republic hp://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/consumer/2015/07/11/ﬁrst-aps- owned-rooop-solar-installed-phoenix/30002989/ Barriers in Development Regulaons § Homeowners’ associaon covenants § Impervious surface calculaons – Ensure ground mount modules are not considered impervious as long as there is pervious surface beneath them (e.g. grass) § Building, Electrical Permit fees – base on me/labor for plan review and Walton EMC Cooperave Solar (GA) inspecons or establish a set fee for solar rather than % of value of install

Zoning Based Development Incenves § Streamline perming § For integraon of a solar energy system receive: • Bonus FAR up to a certain cap (e.g. .20) above base density in a district • Height bonus • Reducing parking requirements PZD-7 Provide development incenves for solar PV within subdivision or zoning code or as part of other development incenves (20 points) American Planning Associaon, hps://planning-org-uploaded-media.s3.amazonaws.com/legacy_resources/pas/at60/img/111figure01.jpg Special Development Sites (e.g. brownfields) v Offer expedited review as long as project meets certain standards v Provide exempon from standards (e.g. lot coverage/impervious surface requirements)

PZD-8 Encourage or incenvize solar PV development on parking lots, vacant lots, landfills, buffer lands, brownfields, airport safety zonings, and non-building structures (20 points)

Shaffer Landfill, Billerica, MA, Urban Green Technologies hps://www.high-profile.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Shaffer-Landfill_PV-aerial.jpg Integrang Solar into Plans

§ Comprehensive plan o Covers an array of topics o Establishes plan of growth for 20-25 years o Provides legal basis for zoning/land-use regulaons o All states either allow or require local govts. to establish comp plans

§ Small area/neighborhood plan o To plan speciﬁc areas, neighborhoods, districts, etc. o May contain speciﬁc recommendaons that go beyond the comp plan o Establish plan for growth, frequently 20-25 years out

§ Funconal plans o Energy plan o Sustainability plan PZD-5 Integrate solar PV and/or shared solar o Climate plan into relevant local plans, including quanﬁable metrics or speciﬁc acons (10 points) Research on PV Deployment and City- Level Solar Policy Local Solar Resources

Google Project Sunroof for cies hps://www.google.com/get/sunroof/data-explorer/ Cies-LEAP apps1.eere.energy.gov/sled City-Level PV Capacity and Policy Analysis City-level installed PV capacity was examined for in six states to understand the inﬂuence of policy and demographics.

Findings include: § Adopng solar planning policies and codes is correlated with more installed solar capacity § Smaller communies tend to have fewer, larger systems

Day, Megan H. “Local Solar: What do leading solar communies have in common?” Planning 81, no. 11 (2015): 28-33. hp://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16os/64883.pdf PV Deployment & Educaon, Income § Less populous communies tend to have more solar installed per capita § Communies leading their state in total solar energy generaon or was per capita were, on average, at or slightly below state income and educaon averages

Day, Megan H. “Local Solar: What do leading solar communies have in common?” Planning 81, no. 11 (2015): 28-33. hp://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16os/64883.pdf NREL Municipal Code Research NREL conducted research into clean energy references in municipal codes. Municipalies reference solar in their codes more than any other clean energy term.

Cook et al. 2016. Clean Energy in City Codes: A Baseline Analysis of Municipal Codiﬁcaon across the U.S. NREL-66120. Naonal Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (US). hp://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17os/66120.pdf

Proporon of Municipalies Referencing Clean Energy in Codes in Each State

Cook, et all. 2016. Clean Energy in City Codes: A Baseline Analysis of Municipal Codiﬁcaon across the U.S. NREL-66120. Naonal Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (US). hp://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17os/66120.pdf Municipal PV Deployment Correlaon with Solar References in Code

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