Greening the Co-op: Advancing the Right Strategy For Your Community Atlanta, Georgia September 23, 2011 Jill K. Cliburn Clean Energy Ambassadors

Green Resources Available for Greenhouse Gas Reductions by 2030 Source: ASES

Your challenge 1.Understand the basics of utility resource planning 2.See energy efficiency as a resource 3.Get a clear picture of opportunities for solar, wind, biomass, other renewables 4.Put these in context for your co-op 5.Change hearts and minds

Mark Gerken, AMP (Ohio) Former chairman, APPA Former new coal proponent Outspoken new leader in EE & renewables

Generation in a diverse portfolio * PV and mixed-renewables in smart-grid fleets promise greater flexibility

Utility programs work with market-driven changes (better building materials and equipment) plus policies, such as codes and standards. Efficiency first! Supply Side Resources Market- and Policy-Driven EE Utility-Driven EE

What makes energy efficiency and DSM a resource? Measurable Long-term Reliable Cost-effective Suited to the utility

Sample measures* * There’s a difference between a measure and a program!

Okay, let’s read the meter…

The link between marketing and EE program results* 1)Top-level support 2)Utilities? Yes, if mission-oriented 3)Trained, motivated trade allies 4)Word-of-mouth (social) marketing 5) Well-scheduled promotions 6) Public participation is an engine for success * Jane Peters, 30 Years of Process Evaluation (2008)

Can co-ops redefine revenue requirements? Premium services Plug-in electric vehicles EE Financing GSHP SWH

Renewables: race the clock US DOE believes in 15-20% wind & solar… Do you?

Rural America leads in wind development

A story of co-op wind from the heartland… Wind farm near Atchinson-Holt Electric Cooperative, Missouri

Co-op Wind Survey: Nearly every co-op that invested in wind had looked at the economics earlier & later revisited wind Often cited reasons driving interest in wind: Customer interest Seeking diversity, risk management Drawn to local resources Environmental concerns Long-term outlook for lower energy cost “Co-ops found many advantages after they had operated their systems.”

Not to minimize Biomass, biochar, or geothermal…

3 Solar Development Tracks Customer-driven PV– Predominant today; most co-ops skeptical of net benefits Centralized PV technologies– Similar to conventional generation model; useful, but limited by land & grid requirements, line losses, and resource variability issues that are mitigated by distributed PV strategies (below) Utility-Driven Strategic Distributed PV Deployed on land or rooftops, designed to utility specifications (e.g., location, scale, orientation, and operation). Its design, procurement, and operation are strategically planned to deliver value to the utility, in terms of generation, transmission, and/or distribution system benefits, beyond those that naturally occur whenever PV is sited & operated on the utility system.* *See Cliburn and Robertson, ASES 2006, 2007

Solar market rolls off the coasts; Prices drop

Utility PV Services Circa 1997 NW PPD, Nebraska (NRECA Member)

Starting Point? A community solar garden Neither this…. Nor that… Initially 25- to 500-kW PV, usually in partnership with a 3 rd Party and/or with a utility, supported by individual ownership, leases, or subscriptions.

Source: Cliburn, CRN 2010

Widely accepted ranges for solar PV value*: APS Source: RW Beck 2009 * REC value may add 10 to 20 cents

It’s time to start looking at the individual resources— where they are and how they perform. – Bobby Hollis, NV Energy

In confidence that there is a renewable energy solution, your first challenge is help co-op leaders to make the Switch*. *using this and many other sources

Thank You! Cleanenergyambassadors.ning.com