The Town of Loomis has entered into a cooperative agreement with PlacerSustain to help facilitate the efforts of the Town to undertake a Solar Project that would help offset town energy consumption; and to assist private businesses and landowners in the Shed to Shed area of the downtown to act quickly to take advantage of the Federal Section 1603 30% cost reimbursements on solar projects. To qualify for this reimbursement, the project must have commenced construction before December 31, 2011.
The Town is working with a team of interested organizations and individuals to support this effort, including, PG&E, Sierra Business Council Energy Watch, PlacerSustain, Placer County mPower, Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technology, Gary Hayworth of Granite Bay Energy, and Quincy McCourt of "The Green Tool Box." Right now this project is focused on the Loomis Shed to Shed area businesses and properties that are along the railroad right of way. Efforts are also underway to explore a Community Energy Pilot project that would bring community interests together to support both residential and non-residential conservation and renewable energy in the balance of the Town.
Here are my quick notes on the August 24, 2011 initial coordinating meeting on the Loomis Shed to Shed Energy Initiative.
1. Attending: Jo-Carol Arisman, Gil Martin,Carol Pepper-Kittredge,Jonja Cupler, Dave Bond, Darrell Johnson, Gary Hayworth, Perry Beck, Gary Liss, Jan Rosser, Raeanne Vouell,Rick Julian, Quincy McCourt, and Jeff Bordelon.
2. PG&E has three basic incentive tracks: first, Rebate Programs; second, Calculated Measures (the energy savings from particular measures are calculated and rebate/incentives are determined on the basis of that information; and third, Targeted Programs for particular customer groups, e.g. non-profit, government, groceries, etc.
3. PG&E conducted a field visit to businesses on the north side of Taylor, Shed to Shed to discuss conservation opportunities and conducted an assessment of energy saving opportunities. Most of the opportunities are in the lighting and HVAC areas. Solar opportunities were not discussed. For 3-4 of the businesses the conservation opportunities were too small to be cost effective. Four businesses presented opportunities for significant savings. The identity of these businesses at this point is confidential.
4. Neither PG&E or SBC Energy Watch have Solar assistance programs for businesses, and instead focus on conservation measures. Conservation comes before Solar to take advantage of the opportunity to reduce the size and cost of the solar installation.
5. In terms of private installation of Solar facilities and eligibility for PG&E inter-connect offsets (meter rollback), the facilities must be located on land owned by the private party. This would eliminate the opportunity for businesses in the Shed to Shed area that do not have sufficient roof area frominstallingtheir solar panels on Town land. Further investigation is necessary to determine whether a lease or easement would qualify.
6. Public or Private Business entities that wish to pursue solar opportunities would primarily rely on private energy consultants/installers for assistance in terms of audit, system design/feasibility, and installation.
7. mPower would be the primary financing source for business solar energy installations. mPower financed projects must be sponsored the property owner. PG&E/SBC-Staples may be a source of financing for conservation measures.
8. To qualify for Section 1603 30% reimbursement the project must commence construction before December 31, 2011. This deadlinemaylimit the ability of private parties to install solar panels on Town constructedshade structures to qualify. Thus, it is quite likely that the Town's participation, to the extent the Town Council elects to do so, would be limited to the grant of a easement or similar grant to the private party that would allow the private entity to commence construction before December 31, 2011.At this stage, it looks like the Town Solar Project and any solar projects of private businesses would be developed separately; however, there may be points of cooperation and support.
9. The Town has several solar project opportunities. First, the Town may construct roof-top solar on the Train Depot; second, the Town may construct a larger solar installation on a shade structure, and third, the Town may construct a smaller solar project at the nearby park. The Town has the ability to offset energy usage at all its facilities by the energy production installed at a single facility; however, all the facilities must have time of use metering.
10. Next Steps:
a. PlacerSustain field visit/contact with STS business and property owners.
b. Gather information on energy usage and general scope of potential solar opportunity working with owners, and PG&E.
c. Provide a meeting opportunity at the September 20, 2011 PlacerSustain monthly meeting for energy providers, financing organizations, and energy / solar contractors to meet business and property owners, and provide information, answer questions.
d. Develop and publish some basic financial feasibility information of the return/payback on business solar installations to help inform the owners of the general range of investment performance that may be expected.
e. Coordinate with the Loomis Chamber of Commerce to arrange an information presentation by PG&E.
f. Pursue development of the Town's energy project.
Let us know if you wish to get involved! Jeffrey Bordelon: 530.305.4607 / jfb@placersustain.org