Brian Ross, Principal, CR Planning, Inc. Local Best Practices for Solar: Planning, Zoning, Permitting 1 Solar Minnesota November 26, 2012

Minnesota Solar Challenge 2

Part of the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative PV Rooftop Challenge  Program Goal: To make solar electric generation (photovoltaic, or PV) widely cost- competitive with conventional grid sources of electricity by Minnesota Solar Challenge Initiative

U.S. DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge Source: U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative Creating a Self-Sustaining Solar Energy Market

Source: GTM Research, The Wall Street Journal Solar Panel Price Drops 5

Logarithmic Volume, Costs 6

Source: Solar Energy Industry Association, 2012 Downward Cost Trend 7

Source: U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative Focus on Cost Components 8

Source: Benchmarking Soft Costs for PV Systems in the United States, Ardani, NREL, 2012 Non-Structural Balance of System Costs 9

Source: us-at / In German 10

U.S. DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge Source: U.S. DOE SunShot Initiative Creating a Self-Sustaining Solar Energy Market

So, is everyone clear on that? Minnesota Solar Challenge Initiative

 Local governments are a critical partner in the task of creating a self-sustaining solar energy market in Minnesota If you remember just one thing Photo credit: Meet Minneapolis

U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative PV Rooftop Challenge  Program Goal: To make PV cost-competitive with conventional grid sources by 2020  Minnesota Department of Commerce Focus: Improve solar access, zoning, development regs Streamline permitting and interconnection Improve net metering Improve financing options for solar Minnesota Solar Challenge Initiative

 Minnesota Solar Challenge Develop best practices consistent with Minnesota’s local government environment and laws Promote best practices to local governments through a variety of organizations and outreach efforts Provide direct assistance to local governments in adapting the best practices to local conditions and priorities Minnesota Solar Challenge Initiative

 Minnesota Solar Challenge Work with GreenStep Cities to incorporate solar energy best practices Adopt solar zoning best practices as a recommended action (#1). Adopt solar permitting best practices as a new action (#7). Complete the zoning and permitting best practices to successfully implement the Renewable Energy Best Practice (#26) Minnesota Solar Challenge Initiative

Renewable Energy in Planning and Policy 17

Renewable energy is an important local resource People in your community will want to take advantage of their renewable energy resources Communities will need to make decisions about how and where solar installations are done Planning Issues Summarized 18

Streamlining the permitting process Implementing Best Practices 19

Streamlining the permitting process  Reduce time spent on acquiring permits and conducting inspections  Ensure that the permit process is transparent to both staff and applicants  Establish a permit fee that covers issuing and inspection costs  Ensure the permit process is consistent with industry best practices Solar Market Transformation Tools 20

1. Identifies when the checklist is applicable 2. Collects basic information about the installation 3. Identifies required drawings and technical information to acquire a permit 4. Identifies when structural engineering review is necessary 5. Identifies criteria for other permit or process requirements Streamlining Permitting Solar Permit Checklist – Saint Paul

Before approval and issuance of permit(s) for solar installations, applicant shall submit the following minimum information... Building integrated solar installations, where the solar collector replaces or substitutes for a component of a building or structure such as roof, shingle, or awning, do not require completionof this checklist separately from the building permit application for the building, structure, or building modification. Streamlining Permitting Solar Permit Checklist – Saint Paul

Building Integrated Solar

Required Drawings and Plans 7. Provide construction drawings that include a building section detail and complete notation of method of fastening equipment to the roof of the subject property, including the following details: Streamlining Permitting Solar Permit Checklist – Saint Paul

Structural Assessment 11. The minimum structural threshold for installing a flush-mounted PV system is a roof structure with at least 2 x 4 rafters no more than 24” on-center spacing Non-flush-mount installations have different potential structural considerations. If the answer to question 10 (is the system flush-mounted?) is no, please provide the following additional information... Streamlining Permitting Solar Permit Checklist – Saint Paul

Ground Mount Submittal info Electrical Information Heritage Preservation 18. Legislative Code § provides that exterior work, including installation of solar energy systems, within city designated heritage preservation sites and districts is subject to review and approval by the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) prior to the issuance of city permits. Streamlining Permitting Solar Permit Checklist – Saint Paul

Best Practices on Permit Fees  Most communities charge a permit fee based on the value of the work being performed... Continue to use value, but exclude the cost of the solar panels Set a fixed fee for residential installations ($100 – 250) based on internal costs for review Consider an incentive fee to encourage investment in solar resources Streamlining Permitting

Solar America Board of Codes and Standards (Solar ABCS) ications/reports/expedited- permit/

Streamlining Permitting Photovoltaic on-line training (PVOT) for code officials Go to (Search for “photovoltaics” or PV)

Streamlining Permitting Structural engineering study on Minnesota residential rooftop solar installations. images/SolorRoofsReport.pdf

The Minnesota Solar Challenge offers free technical assistance to local governments Implementing Best Practices 31

Technical assistance to local governments to adopt or incorporate best practices for enabling solar energy development in their community. Best practices focus on:  Removing barriers in local permitting processes (building and electric),  Understanding and adopting reasonable permit fees charged to solar installations, and  Ensuring that land use regulation (including comprehensive plan language and zoning) treats solar energy resources fairly and consistently with other resources and land uses. Solar Challenge Technical Assistance 32

Technical assistance includes:  Workshops presenting local government best practices and how to adapt the best practices.  Working directly with city decision-makers and staff to explain the value of solar.  Presenting and discussing local best practices directly with commissions, staff, elected officials.  Helping individual local governments fit the best practices fit into existing processes and regulations.  Writing draft language or guidance documents for permitting and land use standards to fit the local conditions and circumstances of the individual city. Solar Challenge Technical Assistance 33

Thank You! 34 Minnesota Solar Help Hotline (855)

35 Principal, CR Planning, Inc Brian Ross Laura Cina Managing Director, Minnesota Renewable Energy Society Minnesota Solar Help Hotline (855)