As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, today Energy Secretary Steven Chu was joined by Lynn Jurich, the president and co-founder of the solar power company SunRun, and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to announce $12 million in funding for the awardees of the Rooftop Solar Challenge. The Challenge supports 22 regional teams to spur solar power deployment by cutting red tape—streamlining and standardizing permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes—and improving finance options to reduce barriers and lower costs for residential and small commercial rooftop solar systems. This project is part of the Department's larger effort to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, increase domestic solar deployment, and position the United States as a leader in the rapidly-growing global solar market.
"Through this competition, the Energy Department is helping to unleash America's solar potential by investing in projects that will make it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power in communities across the country," said Secretary Chu. "These awards will reduce the cost homeowners and businesses pay to install solar energy systems, while at the same time saving money and time for local governments faced with tight budgets."
The DOE SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Reducing the installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75% will drive widespread large-scale adoption of solar—fortifying U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race while spurring new industries and job creation across the nation.
Non-hardware, or "soft," costs like permitting, installation, design, and maintenance currently account for up to 40% of the total cost of installed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. Across the nation today, there are more than 18,000 local jurisdictions with their own PV permitting requirements, land use codes and zoning ordinances; more than 5,000 utilities that are implementing standards for connecting and selling energy back to the energy grid; and all 50 states are developing their own connection standards and processes for supplying and pricing energy sold back to the grid. According to a report released earlier this year by SunRun, local permitting and inspection processes alone add about $0.50 per watt, or $2,500 per residential installation nation-wide.
Using a "race to the top" model, the Rooftop Solar Challenge incentivizes the regional awardees to address the differing and expensive permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes required to install and finance residential and small business solar systems. The 22 diverse teams bring together city, county, and state officials, regulatory entities, private industry, universities, local utilities, and other regional stakeholders to clear a path for rapid expansion of solar energy and serve as models for other communities across the country.
The teams will implement step-by-step actions to standardize permit processes, update planning and zoning codes, improve standards for connecting solar power to the electric grid and increase access to financing.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
2011 ACEE Scorecard and Fall Events
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Tennessee in the top 6 most improved states in the nation.
Also, Beadsley Farm's Fall SkillShare is Oct 29th, and Raise the Roots is Nov 7th. They are having a photo show at the Tomato Head in November, then in Maryville in December!
“Growing Healthy Communities: A Closer Look at CAC Beardsley Farm,” a photographic exhibit on display at The Tomato Head in Knoxville throughout the month of November. All photographs were taken by CAC Beardsley Community Farm staff and depict various aspects of the urban demonstration site. Prints on display were generously provided by Thompson Photo of Knoxville, TN. Additional prints of the artwork are available upon request; please contact beardsleyfarm@gmail.com for pricing and more information. The photographic exhibit will occur in conjunction with Raise the Roots benefit dinner at The Tomato Head on November 7th. For tickets and information, please see beardsleyfarm.org. All proceeds from the dinner and print sales go to benefit CAC Beardsley Community Farm. CAC Beardsley Community Farm has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach for 13 years. Beardsley’s efforts include a large urban demonstration garden that generates produce donations for those in need, a community garden, and education programs through workshops and school field trips to the farm site.
The exhibit will also be on display at The Tomato Head in Maryville during the month of December.
Also, Beadsley Farm's Fall SkillShare is Oct 29th, and Raise the Roots is Nov 7th. They are having a photo show at the Tomato Head in November, then in Maryville in December!
“Growing Healthy Communities: A Closer Look at CAC Beardsley Farm,” a photographic exhibit on display at The Tomato Head in Knoxville throughout the month of November. All photographs were taken by CAC Beardsley Community Farm staff and depict various aspects of the urban demonstration site. Prints on display were generously provided by Thompson Photo of Knoxville, TN. Additional prints of the artwork are available upon request; please contact beardsleyfarm@gmail.com for pricing and more information. The photographic exhibit will occur in conjunction with Raise the Roots benefit dinner at The Tomato Head on November 7th. For tickets and information, please see beardsleyfarm.org. All proceeds from the dinner and print sales go to benefit CAC Beardsley Community Farm. CAC Beardsley Community Farm has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach for 13 years. Beardsley’s efforts include a large urban demonstration garden that generates produce donations for those in need, a community garden, and education programs through workshops and school field trips to the farm site.
The exhibit will also be on display at The Tomato Head in Maryville during the month of December.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Fall Events from Beardsley Community Farm
Saturday Work Day
Saturday, October 8 from 9 AM - 12 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We will have a open volunteer work day on October 8th. Come learn about Beardsley Community Farm and urban gardening while helping us prepare the farm for winter. We depend upon community support and love to see new and old faces at the farm. As always, the whole family is welcome. Please wear closed-toed shoes and be ready to get dirty!
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Fall SkillShare
Saturday, October 29 from 10 AM - 4 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We are proud to announce our first SkillShare event this coming month. SkillShare will be a day of workshops that cover a wide range of agricultural topics, such as vermicomposting, cold weather gardening, and wild foraging. The final schedule will be ready soon so please stay tuned for more information.
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Raise the Roots
Monday, November 7 from 6 PM - 9 PM at The Tomato Head
Join us for our second annual Raise the Roots dinner at The Tomato Head. Food will be locally-sourced and prepared by owner Mahasti Vafaie, Tomato Head Staff, and the Beardsley Farm team. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about CAC Beardsley Community Farm, meet farm volunteers, and share their experiences gardening and cooking in Knoxville and East Tennessee. All are welcome. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children, and $100 for a table of four. They can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200875
Saturday, October 8 from 9 AM - 12 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We will have a open volunteer work day on October 8th. Come learn about Beardsley Community Farm and urban gardening while helping us prepare the farm for winter. We depend upon community support and love to see new and old faces at the farm. As always, the whole family is welcome. Please wear closed-toed shoes and be ready to get dirty!
____________________
Fall SkillShare
Saturday, October 29 from 10 AM - 4 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We are proud to announce our first SkillShare event this coming month. SkillShare will be a day of workshops that cover a wide range of agricultural topics, such as vermicomposting, cold weather gardening, and wild foraging. The final schedule will be ready soon so please stay tuned for more information.
____________________
Raise the Roots
Monday, November 7 from 6 PM - 9 PM at The Tomato Head
Join us for our second annual Raise the Roots dinner at The Tomato Head. Food will be locally-sourced and prepared by owner Mahasti Vafaie, Tomato Head Staff, and the Beardsley Farm team. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about CAC Beardsley Community Farm, meet farm volunteers, and share their experiences gardening and cooking in Knoxville and East Tennessee. All are welcome. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children, and $100 for a table of four. They can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200875
Friday, September 23, 2011
2011 Home Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Fair
The 2011 Home Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Fair with the Knoxville / Knox County CAC is scheduled Friday, October 28th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the L.T. Ross building, 2247 Western Ave.
Participating organizations will each be assigned an area in which to set up their displays or demonstrations of products or techniques.
Participants are welcome to arrive as early as 9:00 AM to set up their displays. All displays should be taken down by 3:00 PM. Volunteers will be on-hand to assist in setting up and taking down displays.
If you have any questions, please contact Stacy Gloss at (865) 244-3080. We look forward to seeing you there!
Participating organizations will each be assigned an area in which to set up their displays or demonstrations of products or techniques.
Participants are welcome to arrive as early as 9:00 AM to set up their displays. All displays should be taken down by 3:00 PM. Volunteers will be on-hand to assist in setting up and taking down displays.
If you have any questions, please contact Stacy Gloss at (865) 244-3080. We look forward to seeing you there!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Knoxville's Green Building Incentive Update
The City of Knoxville's Green Building Incentive Program will begin tomorrow, September 21, 2011. The program will be administered by Knox CAC Housing and Energy Services. The goal of the program is to incentivize the Knoxville community to build or retrofit structures to create energy efficient buildings and deploy solar technologies. Rebates will be available for residential homes and buildings that house commercial or non-profit businesses. After completing energy assessments and specified energy-saving measures, participants will be eligible for rebates to cover some of the costs of completing an energy audit, purchasing energy efficient appliances, and installing solar photovoltaic and solar water heating systems.
For more information, visit http://cachousing.org or call
CAC Housing and Energy Services at (865) 244-3080.
The official press release can be found here.
Draft documents, followed by final documents, can be found at http://www.cityofknoxville.org/sustainability
For more information, visit http://cachousing.org or call
CAC Housing and Energy Services at (865) 244-3080.
The official press release can be found here.
Draft documents, followed by final documents, can be found at http://www.cityofknoxville.org/sustainability
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Knoxville's Green Building Incentive
The City of Knoxville's Green Building Incentive is close to being released. This program has been in development for quite awhile and we are excited to see it launch. The program has passed City Council and will be administered by Knox CAC. We are busy finalizing the details, but the plan is to begin accepting applications next Wednesday, September 21st.
Draft documents are available here.
Currently proposed rebates include:
Energy Assessment Incentive - $150.00 Rebate
Energy Efficient Appliance Incentive - Up to $1,650 Rebate
(Purchase of 2 or more required)
-Refrigerator - $500
-Water Heater - $750
-Toilet (up to 2) - $200
Solar Photovoltaic Incentive
-Commercial - $1,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
-Residential - $2,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
-Non-profit - $3,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
Solar Water Heating
1-3 Collector Panel System - $1,000
4-5 Collector Panel System - $2,000
6+ Collector Panel System - $3,000
Look for the final program guidelines, documents, and press release in the coming days. Please e-mail Sustainability@cityofknoxville.org with any questions.
Draft documents are available here.
Currently proposed rebates include:
Energy Assessment Incentive - $150.00 Rebate
Energy Efficient Appliance Incentive - Up to $1,650 Rebate
(Purchase of 2 or more required)
-Refrigerator - $500
-Water Heater - $750
-Toilet (up to 2) - $200
Solar Photovoltaic Incentive
-Commercial - $1,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
-Residential - $2,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
-Non-profit - $3,000 per kW installed capacity up to 5kW
Solar Water Heating
1-3 Collector Panel System - $1,000
4-5 Collector Panel System - $2,000
6+ Collector Panel System - $3,000
Look for the final program guidelines, documents, and press release in the coming days. Please e-mail Sustainability@cityofknoxville.org with any questions.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Car Sharing Comes to Knoxville
The Knoxville-Knox County Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) is soliciting proposals from firms, joint ventures and/or partnerships to implement and operate a car sharing program. Proposals are due Sept. 29, 2011 at 2 p.m.
With car sharing, people can rent cars for short periods of time. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use day-to-day.
Download the RFP at: http://www.knoxcounty.org/apps/solicitations/solicitations.php
With car sharing, people can rent cars for short periods of time. They are attractive to customers who make only occasional use of a vehicle, as well as others who would like occasional access to a vehicle of a different type than they use day-to-day.
Download the RFP at: http://www.knoxcounty.org/apps/solicitations/solicitations.php
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