Community Solar Project Workshop
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity. It’s your responsibility to determine whether or not this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz in order to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz. Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
Videos that qualify for AIA, LACES, ASLA, or CLARB credit will require an extra week for processing.
Streamable MP4/PDF
Available approximately 1 week after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later.
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Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
USB MP4/PDF
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The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
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Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Thursday, February 16, 2023 | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm CST
Agenda:
Introduction – Defining Community Solar (CS)
- What is community solar and why it is an important part of the energy landscape
- How do CS economics work?
- Who benefits from CS, who are the various stakeholders and how does each type of stakeholder benefit?
- What are the advantages of community solar projects to consumers, states, grid operators and industry?
- Policy considerations
Community Solar Ownership/Subscription Models
- CS Provider (non-utility)
- Community-owned
- Utility owned
Economics, Energy Modeling and Return on Investment
- Overview of project economics and stakeholders
- Cost to develop, own and operate (CS Provider)
- Cost / Benefit / ROI
- Financial benefits to consumers (ownership vs. subscriber models)
- Utility owned – the life of a CS asset – Cost/Benefit/ROI
Siting, Utility Interconnection, and Construction Best Practices
- The ABCs of Siting Solar Ground Mount Projects
- location, location, location
- Utility Interconnection – the good, the bad and the ugly
- Anatomy of a Solar Array – commercial, residential and utility scale
- Construction best practices: equipment, landscaping
- Maintenance considerations
- Pollinator Friendly / Agrivoltaics opportunities
Permitting, Promotion and Community Engagement
- Overview of the permitting process – AHJs, ordinances, best practices
- Civil/Environmental: endangered species, stormwater runoff, setbacks, screening
- Public relations: working with public officials and the public
- Recruiting buyers/subscribers/off-takers
Workshop: Community Solar Case Studies
- Examples from key markets: IL, MA, MN, NJ, NY
- Success stories
- Challenges and opportunities
Credits
Engineers
7.0 PDHs
Architects
7.0 HSW CE Hours
AIA
7.0 LU|HSWs
International Code Council
0.7 CEUs (Energy)
Certified Planners
CM|7
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 7.0 PDHs for professional engineers and 7.0 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects in all states.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider No. 0004647), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700) and North Carolina (S-0130). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 7.0 LU|HSWs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.
The International Code Council has approved this event for .7 CEUs in the specialty area of Energy (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
HalfMoon Education is an approved CM Provider with the American Planning Association. This course is registered for CM | 7 for Certified Planners.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
Speakers
Tim Montague M.S.
Solar PV expert, NABCEP PV Technical Sales certified solar professional
Tim Montague, M.S., is a solar PV expert, NABCEP PV Technical Sales certified solar professional and host of two podcasts: the Solar Podcast and the Clean Power Hour with co-host John Weaver. Mr. Montague is a business development executive for Continental Energy Solutions in Chicago and has been involved with over 40 megawatts of solar projects in the Midwest including portfolios of community solar (3 MW DC), and many commercial, industrial, government, nonprofit and campus clients. Continental has built the two largest rooftop solar projects in the Midwest (Magid Glove and IKEA Joliet) and portfolios of Target and Walmart stores. Mr. Montague is passionate for the energy transition, and he spreads the news and best practices, technology and thought leadership via his two podcasts which you can see at www.CESnrg.com/podcast. The podcasts cover topics like pollinator-friendly solar, agrivoltaics, low-carbon solar panel manufacturing and much more. Mr. Montague works with commercial clients to help them achieve their energy conservation and sustainability goals through solar and battery storage solutions. He works with solar developers to help them bring profitable projects to the light of day. Mr. Montague holds a master of science degree in Botany from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). He is a passionate trail runner, off-grid camping enthusiast and lover of animals including his two cats Cayenne and Ginger. He has strong ties to Scandinavia where his two sons live and study in Norway. His motto is “Let’s grow solar!”
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Community Solar Project Workshop
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This course defines community solar and why it is an important part of the energy landscape. It examines community solar ownership and subscription models, energy modeling and return on investment, siting, utility interconnection, construction best practices, permitting, promotion, and community engagement.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to explain what community solar (CS) projects are and how they are becoming an important part of energy production and usage.
Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to identify the advantages of CS projects and who benefits from them, including consumers, states, grid operators, industry, and the environment.
Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to discuss the critical role of selecting the proper location for a CS array and siting it properly, and they will be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of utility interconnection.
Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to discuss permitting requirements for CS projects and considerations for the protection of endangered species, managing stormwater that runs off panels, and landscaping for pollinators.
LUs: 7.0 LU Type: LU|HSWs.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with energy production and climate change
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 04/06/2024
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.