Illinois Solar for All

Transcription

1 Illinois Solar for All Creating a Low-Income Solar Program from the Ground Up Solar Energy Industries Association March 28, 2017 Amy Heart, JD Director, Public Policy Sunrun Juliana Pino, MS, MPP Policy Director Little Village Environmental Justice Organization

2 Expanding Access to Solar & Increasing Job Opportunities

3 Creating Low-Income Solar from the Ground Up Essential Participants Process & Alignment Guiding Principles Program Details Ongoing Work Lessons Learned

4 The Team Community Advocates Solar Industry Utility Training Experts Environmental Advocates

5 Process & Alignment: Cross-Sector Collaboration Process Status Quo: Energy Legislation Technical knowledge valued over other expertise Not just about process Decision-making spheres, methods not aligned Need to implement ethical governance practices Lack of energy negotiation access Policy sectors operate in silos Funding inequities also limit who participates Process impacts policy outcomes

6 Process & Alignment: Cross-Sector Collaboration Process Status Quo: Energy Legislation Key Process Remedies: Technical knowledge valued over other expertise Consistent channels of input open, valued by all Decision-making spheres, methods not aligned Scenario planning and iterative discussion Need to implement ethical governance practices Jemez Principles of Democratic Organizing Lack of energy negotiation access Co-negotiation: low-income solar energy policies Policy sectors operate in silos Collaboration across sectors, expertise areas Funding inequities also limit who participates Funding and lateral support for capacity

7 Policy Frameworks: Traditional Environmental vs. Justice Frame 1 Frame 2 Policy Focus Technology-based Place-based Timeline Short-term Long-term Coalition Building Like-minded groups Community groups, cross-issue Organizing Strategy Advocacy ( turn out ) Leadership development Goal Policy passage Building community resilience/assets Outcome Equal (Implementation of policy regardless of race or income) Equity (Implementation of policy differentiated based on historic reality) Source: Martinez, C., Gupta., S., & Wasserman Nieto, K. (February 2013). Environmental Justice Assessment on Climate and Energy: Midwest Region Report Funded by and Prepared for the Re-Amp Network

8 Illinois Solar for All: The Principles

9 The Principles Ensure access to solar for low-income residents across entire state. Creates job opportunities by bringing training to communities. Affordability & Accessibility Community Engagement Sustainable & Flexible Compatibility & Integration

10 The Principles Beginning, middle, and end of program includes community input and evaluation. Affordability & Accessibility Community Engagement Sustainable & Flexible Compatibility & Integration

11 The Principles Program can be flexible and adapt to successes or obstacles, recognizing new ideas and partnerships. Affordability & Accessibility Community Engagement Sustainable & Flexible Compatibility & Integration

12 The Principles Works in conjunction with other low-income or energy-related programs to increase access to all programs to support Illinois families. Affordability & Accessibility Community Engagement Sustainable & Flexible Compatibility & Integration

13 Illinois Solar for All: Program Details

14 Illinois Solar for All - Incentives Community Solar Rooftop Solar Public Facilities Pilot Projects 38% 22% 15% 25% Low-income residents Low-income residents Max $50M/project Anywhere in IL Anywhere in IL Non-profits / public facilities that serve low-income communities Potential utility participation

15 Illinois Solar for All - Training Opportunities Solar Training Pipeline A Paid Job Interview Tied to low-income rooftop solar incentives Partnership with industry Connect to existing training programs

16 Illinois Solar for All - Training Goals Solar Training Pipeline Goals Environmental Justice goals Hiring goal: persons with a record & foster care alumni Geographic equity & various types of project training

17 Ongoing Work: Implementation

18 Illinois Solar for All Working Group Implementation: Ongoing Work Framework Supporting Regulatory Agencies Making it Real Community of Partnerships

19 Lessons Learned #realtalk

20 No assumptions. Start where people are. Be creative, patient, and focused. Illinois Solar for All #realtalk Learning is needed in every direction. Keep looking for ideas. The politics will challenge you. Stay together. Always.

21 Amy Heart, JD Sunrun Thank you. Questions? Juliana Pino, MS, MPP Little Village Environmental Justice Organization