Leading the Way: State and Local Energy Policies Chelsea Conover Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency North Carolina Solar Center Emerging Leadership Summit on Energy Justice Hollywood, Florida May 27, 2011

Background Created by the NC Solar Center in 1995 Funded by the US DOE (EERE) Administered by NREL Rules, regulations, policies, and incentives Renewable energy and energy efficiency All Federal and State Most utility Some local

Policy Strategies Create Goals Remove Barriers Make it Cheaper

State & Local Policies: RPS and EERS Directed at utilities State or local (usually state) Technology carve-outs Correlated with increased renewables/EE Best RPS/EERS: Penalties + Ambitious targets

Energy Efficiency Resource Standards / March 2011 Energy efficiency resource goal Energy efficiency resource standard 20 states have an EERS (4 states have goals) 20 states have an EERS (4 states have goals) MA, RI DE Policy includes natural gas savings requirements or goals

State & Local Policies: Net Metering & Interconnection NM: Allows for electricity to flow to and from the customer Interconnection Standards: Technical and procedural process and rules Not all policies are created equal

PACE Financing Property owners borrow money from the local government for renewable energy and/or EE improvements Loan typically repaid on property tax bill (or water, sewer, utility) Loan legally transfers with property Loan secured by lien on property Administered by local government, but generally requires state authorization

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) PACE financing authorized by the state* / March 2011 CA: 2008 NM: 2009 CO: 2008 WI: 2009 ME: 2010 VA: 2009 OK: 2009 TX: 2009 LA: 2009 IL: 2009 OH: 2009NV: 2009 OR: 2009 NY: 2009 NC: 2009 FL: 2010 HI: Existing Authority 25 states + DC authorize PACE (24 states have passed legislation and HI permits it based on existing law) DC MN: 2010 VT: 2009 MD: 2009 GA: 2010 DC: 2010 MO: 2010 NH: 2010 *The Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) issued a statement in July 2010 concerning the senior lien status associated with most PACE programs. In response to the FHFA statement, most local PACE programs have been suspended until further clarification is provided. statement MI: 2010 (C&I Only) MA: 2010

Other Important Policies Solar and Wind Access/Easements Energy Efficient Building Codes 3 rd Party Power Purchasing Solar and Wind Permitting Grants, Loans, Rebates Property Tax Incentives Green Building Incentives Industry Recruitment/Support Production Incentives Public Benefit Fund Feed-In Tariff

Example: New Jersey RPS has lead to other policies/programs – SRECs (most vibrant SREC market) – Incentive programs Good net metering/interconnection Sales tax incentives Solar and wind access laws

Example: Long Island Green Homes Successful PACE Financing program - EE Used State waste law and solid waste fund Energy improvements savings > loan costs

Thank you! Copper Mountain Solar facility in Boulder City, NV

Resources Wiedman, Joe. Community Renewables Model Program Rules. Interstate Renewable Energy Council. November Community-Renewables-Report _FINAL.pdfhttp://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IREC- Community-Renewables-Report _FINAL.pdf Freeing the Grid: Best Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures. Network for New Energy Choices. December Updates and Trends. Interstate Renewable Energy Council Annual Meeting. October 11, _web.pdfhttp://irecusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/IREC-Annual-Trends-Report _web.pdf Doris, Elizabeth and Rachel Gelman. State of the States 2010: The Role of Policy in Clean Energy Market Transformation. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January Department of Energy Solar America Communities Program.

Rebate Programs for Renewables / March 2011 Utility, local and/or non-profit program(s) only State program(s) + utility, local and/or non-profit program(s) Notes: This map does not include rebates for geothermal heat pumps or other energy efficiency technologies. The Virgin Islands also offers rebates for certain renewable energy technologies. State program(s) only Puerto Rico DC 23 states + DC & PR offer rebates for renewables 23 states + DC & PR offer rebates for renewables

Solar America Cities Policy Actions Renewable Portfolio Standards Cash Incentives Feed-In Tariff 3 rd -Party Residential Financing Models PACE Community Solar Financing Program Property and Sales Tax Incentives Access Laws Streamlined Permitting Improve Building Codes Streamline/Improve Interconnection and Net- Metering