Agenda - 05-05-2015 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Staff analysis has identified principles to help guide County solar infrastructure deployment. Staff recommends that the development model be piloted with County facilities with new or recently replaced roofing, adequate structural integrity to carry the panels, little or no shade, and good exposure to the South where incoming solar energy is the strongest. Pilot projects should be kept to a smaller scale for management, learning, and in order to be facilitated through Board appropriated "Energy Bank" funds. Staff has employed the "PVWatts" calculator from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to assist in modeling, sizing, and prioritizing solar photovoltaic infrastructure investments ( http:/ /pvwatts.nrel..qov/pvwatts.php). Parallel with this analysis, a team of interested residents and solar experts approached Orange County about the feasibility of installing solar panels on the Rogers Road Community Center for the benefit of the Rogers- Eubanks community. Brennan Bouma, Orange County Sustainability Coordinator, has been working closely with this group to assess the feasibility and benefits of this project as a potential pilot solar project for Orange County. After specifically considering this location, staff recommends the Rogers Road Community Center to benefit from being the County's first pilot solar photovoltaic supported facility. Together with Rob Pinder, Executive Director of NextClimate, Brennan will present an update of the solar initiative collaboration for the Board's comment and feedback. Background on local "Solarize" campaigns (http: / /www.solarizenc.org /) The intent of these "Solarize" campaigns is to lower the cost of rooftop photovoltaic systems through pulling together interested households and commercial users into a group - purchasing deal. NextClimate, a local 501c (3) non - profit organizes the four Solarize campaigns that are active in Orange County (Orange County, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro). In 2014, NextClimate brought together two solar installation companies (Yes! Solar Solutions and Southern Energy Management), and two financing organizations (Admiral's Bank and Self Help Credit Union) with the mission to bring affordable solar power to the people of Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough. Their efforts resulted in new solar installations on 90 homes and small businesses across Orange County in 2014. In 2015, NextClimate is expanding its reach to create Solarize Research Triangle, bringing solar investment and benefits to Research Triangle Park workplaces. NC WARN is also running a series of "Solarize" campaigns in the Triad, Western Wake, Chatham, and Durham counties, and there are other organizations running similar "Solarize" programs in the City of Charlotte as well as the Sandhills and Western NC regions. Next Steps Should the Board agree with the Manager's recommendation, staff will move forward with the solar pilot project as a part of the 2015 Orange County "Solarize" campaigns, pursue both solar investors and development partners through the appropriate statutory procurement processes, and provide ongoing progress reports to the Board. Staff projects that the initial pilot project will be completed and operational no later than December 2015, and that this could be the first of many facility photovoltaic solar systems providing renewable energy in lieu of less sustainable energy sources.