In this webinar, presented live on March 7, 2024, we learned more about the SolSmart program and resources on solar procurement for local and Tribal governments in Minnesota.
Summary:
Welcome - We kicked off the webinar by exploring the Solar Suitability App. Participants looked up their office, home, or another location to discover the potential for rooftop solar on the building.
- Sydne Tursky, Program Coordinator, Renewable Energy - Great Plains Institute
Sol Smart program - Sydne shared information about SolSmart, a national designation and technical assistance program that has helped over 450 local governments make it faster, easier, and more affordable for residents and businesses to go solar.
A SolSmart designation recognizes communities that have taken key steps to address local barriers to solar energy and foster the growth of mature local solar markets and demonstrates that a community is “open for solar business,” making it attractive to solar companies and other business development.
- Program criteria are organized into 5 different categories that promote best practices to help local governments improve their solar markets
- Permitting and Inspection
- Planning and Zoning
- Government Operations
- Community Engagement
- Market Development
- Benefits of solar development include:
- Reduce carbon emissions
- Encourage economic growth
- Create new jobs
- Give residents and businesses new choices for meeting their energy needs
- Expand equitable access to clean energy sources
- Enhance community resilience
- Meet local sustainable development goals
- SolSmart Actions include:
- Increase transparency
- Post a permitting checklist online
- Develop a solar landing page
- Increase understanding
- Provide training on solar PV to staff working in permitting and inspection
- Train planning staff on planning and zoning best practices for solar PV
- Reduce barriers
- Decrease permit turnaround time
- Codify that solar PV is a by-right accessory use in the zoning ordinance
- Expand access
- Expand opportunities for community engagement
- Create more inclusive and equitable policies and programs that enable all residents to benefit from solar
- There are four levels of designation: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and (new in 2023) Platinum. Communities achieve designation by meeting prerequisites as well as meeting other elective criteria.
- 47 communities in Minnesota are SolSmart designees
- Technical assistance is available for SolSmart participants. The SolSmart team is a robust technical assistance team composed of organizations with years of experience providing local governments with the solutions and expertise needed to remove barriers to solar deployment and implement best practices.
- Once the community’s solar statement (a commitment to pursue SolSmart designation) is provided, each community is assigned a Technical Assistance Provider (TA Provider) to support its SolSmart journey. TA Providers will set up a consultation call, conduct a baseline assessment, and review the community’s zoning code. Your TA Provider can develop a customized technical assistance plan that will help the community make impactful changes and achieve the nationally recognized SolSmart designation.
- Peter Lindstrom, Manager, Public Affairs & Community Engagement - Clean Energy Resource Teams
- CERTs Resources for Solar Procurement
- On-site Solar Options:
- CERTs can help with a solar suitability analysis using tools like PVWatts and the Solar Suitability App.
- For public installations, there are a number of resources to help finance the project:
- MN Solar on Public Buildings is a new State grant opportunity for projects located on public buildings (or grounds) located in Xcel energy territory.
- The State Master Contract for Solar provides a list of qualified contractors that don't require an RFP process.
- A Model RFP for third-party financing is a tool for public entities to tap into long-term energy cost savings without requiring large up-front capital expenditures.
- Direct Pay (or elective pay) is an option from the Inflation Reduction Act and provides an alternative to the tax incentives made available - but for tax-exempt entities.
- CERTs can help review proposals from solar installers
- Community Solar: Provides an option to add solar without having to build it on-site. Community Solar gardens are available across the state. Users subscribe by the megawatt of electricity.
- Green Pricing: Provides an option for customers to support investments in renewable energy technologies like wind and solar. Through green pricing, participating customers pay a premium on their electric bill to cover the extra cost of the renewable energy.
- City of Bemidji - Marcia Larson, Parks and Recreation Director; Jamin Carlson, Planning Director
- Jamin shared how the City has used the SolSmart program to support businesses and residents with their solar installations. The City is a SolSmart Bronze designee and they now allow solar in all zones and allow commercial solar in certain zones as well.
- Marcia shared how the City added solar to the Travel Information Center at the City's Paul Bunyan Park, a highly visible site (say "hi" to Paul and Babe!). To start, the City connected with the community to understand priorities and concerns. Next, they issued an RFP, with help from CERTs. A committee was formed to review the proposals. The Committee, called Best Fit for Bemidji, included city staff and community residents that set criteria and ranked proposals. The City selected RealSolar and then celebrated a live project in fall of 2023. Using the Enphase App, the City can see the real time production of the solar panels and is looking for ways to share that information with visitors.
View the workshop recording:
View the slides and additional materials:
Additional resources:
- SolSmart Program
- CERTs Resources for Solar Procurement
- Solar suitability analysis
- Public installations
- MN Solar on Public Buildings (in Xcel energy territory)
- State Master Contract for Solar
- Model RFP
- Direct Pay
- Community Solar
- Green Pricing
- Solar Stories
- City of Bemidji Examples
- City of Morris Examples
Best Practice Actions related to this topic:
BPA 18.7 Document that the operation and maintenance, or construction / remodeling, of at least one park building used an asset management tool, the SB 2030 energy standard, or a green building framework.
BPA 26.2 Promote resident/business purchases and/or generation of clean energy by:
BPA 26.3 Promote financing and incentive programs, such as PACE, for clean energy:
BPA 26.4 Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community solar project by:
BPA 26.5 Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, or micro-hydro.
BPA 26.6 Report installed private sector-owned renewable energy/energy efficient generation capacity with at least one of the following attributes:
BPA 26.7 Become a solar-ready community, including adopting ordinance/zoning language and an expedited permit process for residents and businesses to install solar energy systems.
BPA 29.4 Encourage private sector action and incentivize investment in preventive approaches that reduce risk and minimize impacts of extreme weather and the changing climate for human health and the built environment.
BPA 29.8 Improve local energy resilience by minimizing fuel poverty, installing distributed renewable energy systems, and developing microgrids that can improve energy system resiliency.
CA3 - Back-Up Energy System: Newly install islanding capability and storage for a clean energy system in a publicly accessible building to provide back-up power that can sustain function during extreme weather events.
CM12 - Community Renewable Energy Projects: Newly install or support the installation for community-owned or public sector/ municipally- owned renewable energy technology—solar, wind, hydro, etc.
Minnesota Climate Action Framework Measures of Progress:
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. (MN CAF, pg 13.)
By 2040, all of Minnesota’s electricity is carbon-free. (MN CAF, pg 50.)
a. Promoting a local utility's green power purchasing program that allows residents/businesses to order/buy new renewable energy.
b. Creating and sharing a map of the community’s solar resource and/or linking to the Minnesota Solar Suitability App.
c. Connecting residents/businesses with the Solar Directory for potential installers.
d. Hosting a community-wide solar bulk-buy program or campaign (also called "solarize" programs).
a. PACE for commercial property owners to install renewable energy systems, energy efficiency measures and EV charging infrastructure for existing or new construction.
b. Local, state and federal financial incentives for property owners to install renewable energy systems.
c. Local utility renewable energy production incentives and rebates.
a. Serving as a host site for a community solar garden.
b. Facilitating development, by the municipal utility or other entity, of a community solar garden for residents.
c. Participating in a community solar garden to ensure accessibility and availability to low-income residents.
a. Fueled by sun, wind, or biogas.
b. Fueled in part or whole by manure or woody (EAB) biomass, optimized for minimal air and other environmental impacts and for energy efficiency and water conservation.
c. Distributing heating/cooling services in a district energy system.
d. Producing combined heat and power; using a microgrid.
e. Energy storage integrated into a renewable energy installation.
Gold Leaf Challenge actions and goals:
