1. Broward County Cities Kickoff Meeting
Thursday, December 19, 2013
9:00 – 11:00 am
BC GCW
Good morning and happy holidays. I am happy to meet you all to begin work on our exciting project, Go SOLAR Florida!

2. Kick-off Agenda Welcome and Introductions Go SOLAR Overview
Go SOLAR Broward
Go SOLAR Florida
What we Need From You
Broad participation in Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
Marketing
Exhibit
Sponsors
Attendance
Execute the Inter-local Agreement
Adoption of Model Zoning Ordinance & recommendations for modifications to the Go SOLAR Planning & Zoning Best Management Practices
Your Building Department Sign Off on preapproved plans including zoning approval (plans on CD handed out today)
Your attendance at a Training Session (to be scheduled) on how the Go SOLAR Online Permitting System Works
Information Sheet
Agency Questionnaire Form
High Resolution Logos
Any Questions?
Here is an overview of our morning. (Briefly review agenda)

3. Self-introductions
Please state name, title, agency you represent and experience with solar
Start with me. My name is Kay Sommers, I will be the lead contact for the city partners for the Go SOLAR Florida project. My experience with solar prior to go solar fest was limited to a technical report I wrote in college about passive solar in Kentucky. In the past year I have worked with contractors, manufacturers, engineers, non-profits and more and have learned a great deal about solar and some of the reasons it is not flouishing in Florida. But even without a lot of experience, I really champion the cause and think that the sunshine state should take advantage of all this free energy!

4. SunShot is the Apollo Mission of Our Time
The SunShot program builds on the legacy of President Kennedy's 1960s "moon shot" goal, which laid out a plan to regain the country's lead in the space race and land a man on the moon. The SunShot program will aggressively drive innovations in the ways that solar systems are conceived, designed, manufactured and installed.

5. SunShot will work to bring down the full cost of solar—including the costs of the solar cells and installation—by focusing on four main pillars:
Technologies for solar cells and arrays that convert sunlight to energy
Electronics that optimize the performance of the installation
Improvements in the efficiency of solar manufacturing processes
Installation, design and permitting for solar energy systems.

6. When the price of solar electricity reaches about $0
When the price of solar electricity reaches about $0.06 per kilowatt-hour over its lifetime, it will be cost-competitive with other non-renewable forms of electricity
A future in which the goals of the SunShot Initiative are met would ultimately benefit every American by:
Making clean, low-cost, reliable solar energy available for home owners, communities, businesses, and government
Reducing emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) and other pollutants
Creating U.S. jobs through domestic solar manufacturing and distribution

7. Panel Prices Plummeted
Caused by global oversupply
Weak demand in Germany
prices were falling because the sector was expanding rapidly, doubling every one to two years
Chinese manufacturers underestimated local demand so supply rose
Source: Mints, P. (2011). Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity, & Competitive Analysis 20010/2011. Report # NPS-Supply6. Palo Alto, CA: Navigant Consulting Photovoltaic Service Program.

8. However . . .
Due to Soft Costs

9. Soft Costs
Maintenance
Installation
Customer Acquisition
Permitting
Financing
Briefly review each of these soft costs
Our grant with DOE is to specifically address permitting soft costs.
Think about a small business that wants to install solar in BC. They need to take 31 municipalities into account. Each one has a different process to issue a solar permit. Some cost more than a $1000, some less than $500. Some may take weeks to obtain, others can take months. Each city may require a different number and type of inspections.
The purpose of this grant is to work together with as many of our cities as possible and try to devise an easier system that all of us can live with. .
Over 64% of the cost of solar installations are due to soft costs.
Our group can work on reducing permitting soft costs.

10. Go SOLAR Broward Accomplishments Our first grant from DOE in 2012
Partners
Coconut Creek
Dania Beach
Town of Davie *
Deerfield Beach
Fort Lauderdale
Hallandale Beach *
Hillsboro Beach
Lauderdale by the Sea*
Miramar
North Lauderdale
Oakland Park
Pompano Beach
Sunrise
Tamarac
Unincorporated BC
* Did not sign ILA yet
Accomplishments
Partners signed ILA
Removed verbiage from zoning/planning that restricted solar
Created electronic permit process (gosolar.broward.org)
Agreed to one fee ($500 + surcharges)
Preapproved plans
Created Financing Best Practices
Trained participants in use of electronic permit system
Held Go SOLAR Fest January 2013
In go solar broward, we were successful in gaining agreement with 14 cities to issue a permit electronically with preapproved plans.
ILA

11. Go SOLAR Florida Partners Goal Priorities
Alachua, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, St. Lucie Counties and the City of Venice
Cooper City, Hollywood, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Lighthouse Point, Margate, Pembroke Pines, Plantation and Wilton Manors
Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Partners
Increase grid-tied solar systems in Florida through improved awareness, electronic permitting processes, and financial options for installation
Goal
Standard, successful model for inexpensive and rapid solar permitting
Increase the Florida grid-tied solar market
State program for solar Financial Options
Priorities
With gosolar florida, we want to add another 9 cities (you) and other counties in Florida

12. Go SOLAR Florida Objectives
Develop & market a consortium of early adopter counties in Florida
Lower soft costs of PV by standardizing permitting process in 7 counties
Standardize solar-related zoning
Enhance financing options
Expand net metering & interconnection standards
Market
Our second grant from DOE in 2013
City Partners
Cooper City
Hollywood
Lauderdale Lakes
Lauderhill
Lighthouse Point
Margate*
Pembroke Pines
Plantation
Wilton Manors
* Already signed ILA

13. What we Need From You
Broad participation in Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
Marketing
Exhibit
Sponsors
Attendance
Execute the Inter-local Agreement
Adoption of Model Zoning Ordinance & recommendations for modifications to the Go SOLAR Planning & Zoning Best Management Practices
Your Building Department Sign Off on preapproved plans including zoning approval (plans on CD handed out today)
Your attendance at a Training Session (to be scheduled) on how the Go SOLAR Online Permitting System Works
Information Sheet
Agency Questionnaire Form
High Resolution Logos

14. Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
June 6 &7, 2014
Greater Fort Lauderdale/BC Convention Center
Free to attend
$200 to Exhibit
Sponsorship packages available
Register today

15. Sign the Inter-local Agreement due 2-28-14
BC agrees to accept the online application & permit fee, and to disseminate both to the city
City agrees to give BC the authority to receive applications, to issue permits & distribute fees to city
City retains authority to conduct inspections & re-inspections
City agrees to modify zoning regs to allow web based applications shall not be subject to further zoning review, inspections or fees.
Already received
from Margate

16. Zoning Ordinance due 2-28-14
Intent is to remove barriers to installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems
Provisions for web based applications for pre-approved installations
Nothing shall be deemed to prohibit installation of rooftop pv solar systems

17. Building & Zoning Dept Sign-off on Pre-approved Plans
These plans have already been approved by Go SOLAR Broward Cities
Plans provided to each Go SOLAR Florida city on CD
Approval requested by January 31, 2014

18. Information Sheet due 1-31-14
Already Received From:
Margate
Plantation
Wilton Manors
Thank you!

19. Agency Questionnaire Form due 1-31-14

20. Any Questions?

21. Terms
Net Metering -Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid. For example, if a residential customer has a PV system on the home's rooftop, it may generate more electricity than the home uses during daylight hours. If the home is net-metered, the electricity meter will run backwards to provide a credit against what electricity is consumed at night or other periods where the home's electricity use exceeds the system's output. Customers are only billed for their "net" energy use. On average, only 20-40% of a solar energy system’s output ever goes into the grid. Exported solar electricity serves nearby customers’ loads.
Interconnection (and related standards) refers to the technical and practical aspects of connecting the solar generator to the grid
Soft costs – non-hardware costs include permitting, installation and interconnection
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association and DOE

22. Resources www.Gosolarflorida.org
DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge
Second Annual Go SOLAR & Renewable Energy Fest
Go SOLAR Online Permitting
Kay Sommers