hamilton county solar - solar united neighbors...solar is growing in hamilton county going solar...

Hamilton County Solar

Fishers Library - August 22, 2019 7 p.m.

Thanks to our Partners & Volunteers!

Hamilton County Board of Commissioners

Carmel Mayor’s Youth Council

Indiana has ample solar resources

SOLAR INTENSITY MAP

Source: NREL

Indiana has more solar resources than Germany, one of the world’s leaders in solar.

Started

in2007 and

it wasn’t

easy!

Residential solar growth in Indiana

Source: www.sirensolar.org

Solar is growing in Indiana

IURC expands Net Metering.

Solarize Indiana formed in response to anti-solar bill.

Updated 2019 5

Solar is growing in Hamilton County

Going Solar • Makes Financial Sense• Saves Tax DollarsNet Metering is key financial comp.

4,800 solar panels Sand Creek Elementary, Sand Creek Intermediate and HSE Intermediate and Junior High.The solar panels projected annual output of 2.4 million kWh enough energy to power 294 homes.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools 2019

Hamilton County Solar2017-201830 homeowners went solar

1,013 solar panels installed

297 kW capacity

> $42,000 Annual Energy Savings

> 340 tons Annual CO2 Offset

Hamilton County Solar

George &

Madelyn

30 panels

7.6 kW

WEST FACING

Hamilton County Solar

Paul &

Amy

18 panels

5.4 kW

SOUTH FACING

Hamilton County Solar

John &

Melinda

28 panels

9.1 kW

SOUTHEAST FACING

Hamilton County Solar

David &

Cindy

20 panels

5.4 kW

Hamilton County Solar

$250 INCENTIVE

to the first 10 Hamilton County homeowners to install solar.

Many thanks to Solar Sponsors: HC Commissioner Mark HeirbrandtCarmel Green Initiative members & donors

Solar information sessionHamilton County Solar Co-op

We’re a community of people building a new energy system

with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. We help people

go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.

Solar United Neighbors today

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Co-op Membership

• Group process

• 50 – 100 neighbors

• 6-8 month process

• Group selects single

installer

• Bulk negotiation for best

pricing

• Sign individual contract

• Free 1-year membership!

Individual Membership

• Individual process

• Get help reviewing up to 3

proposals

• Negotiate your own deal

• Faster timeline

• Ongoing advice &

assistance (post install)

• $85 annual membership

How we help you go solar

1. Solar technology

2. How solar co-ops work

3. Solar economics

Presentation in three parts

Part 1: Solar technology

How does a solar panel work?

Solar photovoltaic (PV)

Converts solar energy to electricity

Kilowatts (kW) & Kilowatt-hours (kWh)

System measured in kW

Electricity production in kWh

Most homeowners install between 2 kW – 12 kW

Important terminology

3kW Solar System, to scale, using 300W solar panels

System components: Panels

Panel / ModuleImage Source: DuPont

Solar Array

Microinverters

System components: Inverters

String inverter

& DC optimizers

String inverter

How does my my solar connect to my electrical panel?

Simple connection in panel

Most home electric systems don’t need upgrades before solar

System components: Electrical panel

System components: Racking

Stand offs + beams

Pitch pockets

Ballast

Attaching racking to roof

Clamps

Flashing

Standing seam metal roof

Ground-mounted solar

Roof faces south No shading

Enough space to mount panels

What’s a good roof for solar?

What happens when the

power goes out?

When grid is down, solar

shuts off (safety mechanism)

Need batteries if you want you

want power during outages

System components: Batteries

Value of battery storage

Backup

Power for

you

You might want storage if…

• Frequent utility outages

• Critical loads at home (ex. well

pumps, medical equipment)

• Emergency/disaster preparedness

Save money

or get paid

to help the

grid

Want to learn more?

Check out our new Battery

Storage for Homeowners

guide!

www.solarunitedneighbors.org/storage

What is net metering?

Allows flow of electricity to AND from customer.

1kWh produced = 1kWh consumed

When you generate more than you use, extra electricity flows back

through meter and you receive a credit on your electric bill for that

excess production. That credit can roll over month to month.

[Amount electricity used] – [Amount electricity produced]

= Your monthly electricity bill

What is net metering?

Net metering creates a “solar offset” and generates credits that can be used throughout the year

Net metering in Indiana

Net Metering in Indiana is scheduled to phase out: • Systems installed by July 1, 2022 will receive net metering until 2032• Systems installed after 2022 will not receive net metering

When Net Metering ends:• Instead of getting the full 1:1 net metering rate, homeowner will be credited at

the marginal price (typically about 1/3 the cost of retail rate) + 25%

• Warranties?

• Homeowners’ insurance?

• Maintenance?

• Weather damage? Snow cover?

• How long do systems last?

• Will HOA allow solar on my home?

• What if I’m in a historic district?

Frequently asked questions

Part 2: How solar

co-ops work

• Best value on installation

• Support throughout the

process

• Connect with fellow solar

enthusiasts

• Become part of growing

solar movement

Why go solar with the co-op?

Part 2: How Solar Co-ops Work

Co-op members!

Co-op members consider specific installer criteria

including:

• Price

• Equipment quality

• Warranties

• Experience

• Business location

Who picks the installer?

Part 3: Solar economics

Solar is increasingly affordable

• Costs have come down

>90% since the 1970s

• Solar is no longer a

specialty, expensive or

boutique project for a

homeowner

• But, can still be

daunting to tackle

1970’s

Today

Duke and IPL Historical Utility Rates

$0.08

$0.09

$0.09

$0.10

$0.10

$0.11

$0.11

$0.12

$0.12

$0.13

$0.13

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Cen

ts/k

Wh

Year

Historical Utility Rates

Duke IPL Linear (Duke) Linear (IPL)

Duke Proposed Rate Increase

Average* Monthly Electric Bill, $

Over 10 years, avg. bill increased 27%

Proposed new average bill

Avg. customer*

19% increase

$272 more per year

* Average customer uses 1,000 kWh per month.

$ / M

on

th

SOURCE:

Avg. customer* pays $300+ more per year.

Duke Energy Indiana is currently trying to raise your electric bill by 19%!

Duke Proposed Rate Increase

Source: Citizens Action Coalition

Breaking down the cost of solar

50%52%

48% 49%45%

38% 36% 31%

35%

37%

39%33%

38%51%

53%58%

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Soft Costs

Labor

System

Components

Solar co-ops help reduce an

installer’s soft costs so you can

save money.

$/W

Assumptions: 5.7 kW system size, adjusted for inflation, national data.

Citation: Fu, Ran, David Feldman, and Robert Margolis. 2017. “U.S. Solar Photovoltaic System Cost Benchmark Q1 2017.” NREL/TP-

6A20-68925. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/68925.pdf.

Example pricing

*Please note that this is a conservative estimate based on the currently available information in Indiana. A solar energy system installed today will benefit from full retail rate net metering through 2032, but your system will continue to offset a portion of your electric bill for the entirety of the system's lifespan.

$13,475 $14,245 $15,015 $19,250

$5,775 $5,005 $4,235

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

$14,000

$16,000

$18,000

$20,000

2019 2020 2021 2022

Tax credit available as Federal Tax Credit Steps down

(Example 7kW system)

Remaining Cost*

30% 26% 0%

Federal tax credit is decreasing

22%

* Not inclusive of state and local incentives

Because future solar costs are hard to predict, this chart assumes no

decrease in installation cost year over year. The cost used here is

$2.75/Watt. This varies by location, installer, and equipment.

Loans

– Standard loans

– Solar loans & bridge loans

– HELOC

Grants

– USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

Financing Options

What’s next?

Join the Hamilton County Solar Co-op:

www.SolarUnitedNeighbors.org/HamiltonCounty

Tell your friends and neighbors!

What’s next?

Check out the website

www.solarunitedneighbors.org/HamiltonCounty

Thank you!Zach Schalk, Program Director

Solar United Neighbors of Indiana

INteam@solarunitedneighbors.org

Take action on Duke Rate Case

PUBLIC HEARING:

September 9 at 6 pm

Carmel High School

Auditorium

WRITTEN COMMENTS:

Submit to Indiana Office of

Utility Consumer Counselor.

uccinfo@oucc.in.gov

Attn: Bill Fine

Re: Cause Number:45253

Due by Oct. 1, 2019

1. Reject Duke’s request to raise rates.

2. Reject rolling expensive and dirty

Edwardsport coal plant into base rates.

3. Reject request to continue using

declining block pricing.

For more info, contact megan.anderson@sierraclub.org

SOURCE:

• 30% tariff on imported solar

panels

• Only about 10-15 cents/watt

(estimated)

• Average 7kW system =

$1,050 -- $735 after tax

credit

Tariff drops down over next four years

• 2018 – 30%

• 2019 – 25%

• 2020 – 20%

• 2021 – 15%

Source: NREL

Solar Panel Tariff