promoting solar energy use through local planning putting ... · promoting solar energy use through...

Promoting Solar Energy Use Through Local Planning

Putting Solar Energy Use on the Local Policy Agenda

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About the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership

The SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (SolarOPs) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program designed to increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the US.

Upcoming Events

Fact Sheets

How-To Guides

Podcasts & Webinars

Case Studies

Technical Assistance

About the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership

Resource SolarOutreach.org

http://solaroutreach.org

Planning for Solar Energy

Briefing Papers – Solar Community Engagement

Strategies for Planners

– Solar Mapping

– Integrating Solar Energy Use into Local

Plans

– Integrating Solar Energy Use into Local

Development Regulations

– Balancing Solar Energy Use with

Potential Competing Interests

– Recycling Land for Solar Energy

Development

www.planning.org/research/solar/

Promoting Solar Energy Use Through Local

Planning Webinar Series

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http://www.planning.org/research/solar/


Plans

– September 20, 2013

– 1-2 PM Eastern


Development Regulations

– November 1, 2013

– 1-2 PM Eastern

www.planning.org/research/solar/


Planning Webinar Series

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A core purpose of planning is to help

communities make decisions about local

resources.

But relatively few communities acknowledge

solar energy in local plans and development

regulations.

Framing Thoughts

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Our Discussants

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Brian Ross Principal/Owner of CR Planning

David Morley, AICP Senior Research Associate

American Planning Association

Energy planning is a critical local issue Solar energy is a valuable local resource

People in your community will want to take

advantage of their solar resources.

Solar development, like other development, is a

locally regulated land use with synergies and

conflicts with other local resources

Plans set the stage for how the community

maximizes development opportunities and

minimizes development risks

Why Plan for Solar Development

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Solar is a local resource that has synergies

and conflicts with other local resources

– Important resources frequently overlap

• Industrial assets

• Natural systems

• Productive farmland

• Historic resources

• Aggregate/minerals

– Planning maximizes opportunities and

minimizes risks

Why Plan for Solar Development?

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Understanding the resource’s elements, in

order to protect it or develop it

– Geographic Element. Where is the

resource? Can you get to it?

– Technology Element. What are the

characteristics of how the resource is

harvested or used?

– Market Element. What is the use of the

resource that gives it value, and how is that

affected by local regulation?

Planning for Solar Development

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Solar Resources

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The solar resource varies by:

– Time of day

– Season

– Local Weather

and

– Local Landscape

Solar Resources

Credit: MnDOC

The local landscape defines

whether a given site has a solar

resource – Topography

– On-site obstructions

– Obstructions on adjacent land

– Future obstructions

Solar Resources

An adequate solar resource location is

unshaded for several hours every day (around

solar noon), both now and well into the future.

Understanding solar energy as a resource

– Geographic characteristics – local landscape

Solar Resources

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Energy Innovation Corridor – Minneapolis, Saint Paul

Understanding solar energy as a resource

– Geographic characteristics – local landscape

Solar Resources

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Energy Innovation Corridor – Minneapolis, Saint Paul

The local landscape defines the

solar resource and access to the

resource.

Various technological options

allow property owners to capture

the solar resource, depending on:

the resource location;

the resource quality, and

the desired energy use.

Solar Resources

Climate action goals and policies

Sustainability goals

Energy goals

Environmental Goals

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Economic Goals

Source: Tracking the Sun IV, Lawrence Berkeley Labs, Sept 2011 18

0 50,000 100,000 150,000

2011

2012

2013

48,656

57,177

68,931

Number of Jobs (at least 50% of time in solar)

National Solar Jobs

Installation

Manufacturing

Sales and Distribution

Project Development

Other

(Projected)

Approach issues comprehensively

A Planning Perspective

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Land Use

Transportation

Energy and Climate Change

Housing

Community Facilities

Economic Development

Consider long-term implications


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Year 30 Year 20 Year 10 Year 0

Evaluate how solar energy use fits with other

goals and priorities


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A Sustainable Community


Livability Livability

Harmony with Nature Harmony

with Nature

Economic Resilience Economic Resilience

Social Equity Social Equity

Public Health Public Health

Regional Cooperation


Authentic Participation


Strategic Points of Intervention

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Planning for Solar Planning for Solar

Visioning and long-range goal

setting


setting

Public investment

Public investment

Development work

Development work

Regulations and

incentives

Regulations and

incentives

Plan making

Plan making

Photo: www.solar.calfinder.com


setting

Photo: NREL 23

Does solar play a role in the future vision

for your community?

How does solar connect to other goals

such as greenhouse gas reduction targets

or renewable energy portfolio standards?

Opportunity to gage the level of awareness

and support in the community.

Comprehensive plans

Sub-area plans

Functional plans

Plan Making

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Zoning ordinances Subdivision ordinances

or regulations Form based codes

Planned unit development/ planned

residential development ordinances

Transit oriented development

regulations and guidelines

Historic district architectural or design

guidelines

Transfer of development rights

Wetlands ordinances Tree ordinances

Regulations and

Incentives

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Review and approval of development

projects

Public-private development and

redevelopment projects

Development agreements

Source: www.urbanmilwaukee.com

Development Work

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Public Investment

Source: solaramericacommunities.gov Source: NREL

Public Investment

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Infrastructure

Parking Meters

Crosswalk Signals

Street Lights

Roads

Community Facilities

Town/City Halls

Libraries

Schools

Police & Fire Stations

Source: solaramericacommunities.gov

Local communities, and local government,

are essential partners in creating a

sustainable solar energy market.

– Unlike almost all other energy generation,

solar energy is a local, decentralized energy

resource.

– Every community has a solar energy

resource.

– Solar development is development - local

government holds the keys to how solar

development

Creating a Solar Energy Market

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Creating a Self-Sustaining Solar Energy Market

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Solar energy

markets

Solar energy

markets

Panel conversion efficiency

Panel conversion efficiency

Manufacturing cost

Manufacturing cost

Installation efficiency Installation efficiency

Regulatory barriers

Regulatory barriers

Access to solar

resource

Access to solar

resource

Public Engagement Tools

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Public engagement on

policy initiatives:

Education on solar

resources, to help residents

and businesses understand

their opportunities:

– Workshops

– Technology fairs

– Web-based solar mapping

Mapping Solar Resources

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Mapping the

community scale

resource

Sources: National Renewable Energy Lab; City of Stillwater, MN

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Insolation and Topography

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Add restrictions or conflicts

Mapping Local Solar Resources

Source: Renew Boston Solar Resource Map 34

Yellow dots - current solar installations;

Different colored roofs shows each building's solar potential;

Red sections - integrating solar is difficult for utilities;

Blue sections - historic districts with special considerations for

development.

The “Find your address” box enables users to find the solar

potential at any location.

Real property databases

Demonstration projects

Public installations

Other Tools

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Northeast Ohio Community and

Neighborhood Data for Organizing Gary Weber, ODOT Photo/Video

Services South Coast Solar LLC

Solar Friendly Communities

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1. Comprehensive Plans that address

solar resources

2. Development Regulations that explicitly

address solar development in its varied

forms.

3. Permitting Processes that are

predictable and clear

4. Public Sector Investment in the

community’s solar resources

Comprehensive Plans that address solar

resources and acknowledge solar development

benefits and opportunities in the community.


Photo Credit: CR Planning 37

Development Regulations that explicitly

address solar development in its varied forms,

creates as-of-right installation opportunities,

and sets clear and predictable standards for

balancing solar resources with other resources.


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Permitting Processes with

predictable and clear

submittal requirements,

review timeframes, and

permit fees.


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Public Sector Investment in the community’s

solar resources to demonstrate viability,

community commitment, technological

elements.


Photo credit: Bruce Schnaak Photography, City of Minneapolis 40

Local policy influences solar energy use.

Planning puts solar energy use in context.

There are many opportunities to start

conversations about solar energy use.

Key Takeaways

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Solar

Energy

Use

Solar

Energy

Use



Livability Livability

Harmony with Nature Harmony

with Nature

Economic Resilience Economic Resilience

Social Equity Social Equity

Public Health Public Health





Denver Museum of Nature &

Science

Questions?

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Senior Research Associate, American Planning Association

[email protected]

David Morley, AICP

Brian Ross Owner/Principal, CR Planning, Inc.

[email protected]

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