Resource Library

This 1 page sheet lists 9 different resources that are available for code officials and inspectors looking to advance their knowledge of solar PV. Included in the list are textbooks, free online courses, and in-person training courses.

EPA developed this 4 page fact sheet to promote the significant advantages of redeveloping potentially contaminated lands, landfills, and mining sites for renewable energy development, relative to other sites.

The case study of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District explains how the district leveraged aggregated purchasing and financing from the federal Qualified School Construction Bond Program to install solar carports at five schools in the district to meet 2/3 of the schools' electricity needs and save $11.6M over 20 years. The first hyperlink is a program overview and the second hyperlink shows the actual performance of the system as well as future savings projections.

This program provides incentives for engine replacement (repower) or new electric motor purchase of engines/motors used to power agricultural irrigation pumps. Funds are provided on a first come, first serve basis and applicants must obtain approval and have a signed, executed contract from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (Valley Air) prior to purchase of new equipment. Any equipment purchased prior to contract execution is ineligible as this is not a rebate program. This webpage lists Valley Air's other grant and incentive programs as well, including a variety of resources for businesses, schools, residents, and public agencies in the San Joaquin Valley.

These Drought Initiative Irrigation Training courses aim to provide individuals with training and knowledge in proper management of agriculture whether they have an agricultural background or not. "Individuals will learn surface irrigation methods, evapotranspiration, practical irrigation scheduling techniques, and basic principles of on-farm irrigation system design. These courses provide an opportunity in becoming a Certified Agricultural Irrigation Specialist which is recognized in the region and Irrigation Associates." There are possible waivers and grants for these courses, which would cover most of the cost.

This document is a best practices guidance document for stakeholders when considering the siting of biofuel production facilities in California. Identified in the report are the most current limits for air emissions from individual stationary process equipment. This document also provides general guidance on the available options for mitigating mobile source emissions associated with biorefineries.

Alameda County’s Energy Program,under the County’s General Services Agency has been able to continually implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in County facilities. This case study provides an overview of the program and its two funding sources for program, a Designated Energy Fund and a departmental utility bill surcharge, and lists additional resources.

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) is the only nationwide alternative fuel vehicle and advanced technology vehicle training organization in the United States. The NAFTC develops curricula and disseminates training about alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and advanced technology vehicle education. All courses and workshops can be customized to fit audience needs. To view the list of trainings currently open for registration, visit NAFTC's website.

The Alternative Fuels Data Center offers a large collection of helpful tools. These calculators, interactive maps, and data searches can assist fleets, fuel providers, and other transportation decision makers in their efforts to reduce petroleum use. The Petroleum Reduction Planning Tool, which is designed to help fleets reduce petroleum consumption and emissions, may be of particular interest to fleet managers.

San Diego's Alternate Fuel Policy was enacted in 1995 to enable the City to meet reduced exhaust emission mandates with practical, broad-visioned guidelines, and to assist the region in achieving improved air quality and energy independence. It prescribes proactive actions for the City to take, including converting the City fleet to clean alternative fuels.

As many cities around the country adopt smart growth strategies for urban renewal,a new promise of efficient connectivity to many neighborhoods finally has the prospect of becoming reality. Although many of these improvements aim to connect lower income communities, many of the residents have yet to see the benefits of the development. Social equity planning is becoming increasingly important to ensure that those in low-income communities, who usually benefit from public transit the most, are adequately addressed in the transit planning process.

Approximately $23.6 million in New York State Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) funds and $5 million in funds provided by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) were made available to support the installation and operation of New Anaerobic Digester Gas (ADG)-to-Electricity Systems using dairy farm wastes and/or dairy product processing wastes in New York State. This program manual details the types of incentives that were available, eligibility requirements, and other important program details.

Washington State Law RCW 70.95.330 provides an exemption from solid waste permitting for some dairy manure anaerobic digesters that meet certain conditions. In 2013, the Ecology Department updated the Solid Waste Handling Standards, Chapter 173-350 WAC, to include permitting requirements for solid waste anaerobic digesters. The regulations for the law and its related standards can be found at the link below.

This two page fact sheet outlines the energy savings and benefits associated with biodigesters, as well as funding sources and upfront costs.

The City of Minneapolis's anti-idling ordinance restricts idling of cars and other gas or diesel powered vehicles to no more than three minutes in a one hour period. Another portion of the ordinance limits idling of buses, trucks and other diesel engine-powered vehicles to no than five minutes in a one hour period (though some exemptions are allowed). Exhaust from an idling car carries a higher load of pollutants than a moving car, and vehicle emissions are the leading source of toxic air pollution in Minnesota. Attached below is the text of the ordinance as well as a fact sheet prepared by the City of Minneapolis.

Recommendations arising from a nationwide solar survey administered by IREC and the North Carolina Solar Center

As per A.R.S. § 42-5061, Arizona provides a sales tax exemption for the retail sale of solar and wind energy devices and for the installation of solar energy devices by contractors. The statutory definition of "solar energy device" includes wind electric generators and wind-powered water pumps in addition to daylighting, passive solar heating, active solar space heating, solar water heating, and photovoltaics.

This municipal ordinance adds a solar use to the land use table, and defines solar as permitted by right in most cases. It also contains design standards for solar installations.

This 14 page presentation provides a succinct summary of Austin's Value of Solar residential rate. Find more info on Austin Energy's website in the Source section below.

San Diego Gas & Electric's technology incentives allow eligible customers to receive up to $300 per kilowatt (kW) of verified, dispatchable, fully automated on-peak load reduction. Incentives are offered for the purchase and installation of qualified demand response measures at customer-owned facilities. The total incentive is limited to the actual, reasonable cost of the installed measure.

This 26-page document explains how the Cal Fire task force developed the Guidelines and why task force members recommended that PV systems be designed and installed to accommodate firefighting operations. Without this information, local fire officials may be unwilling to consider alternative means and methods, choosing instead to implement the IFC. A better understanding of the deliberations that went into development of the Guideline will encourage balanced and thoughtful enforcement.

San Francisco Fire Department's comprehensive permit page lists what installations require fire permits, including battery storage systems. It also specifies permits fees for each type of permit, which amount to $330 for a battery system.

The City & County of Denver, CO, follows a tiered permitting fee schedule for battery systems based on the electrolyte capacity of the system in question. A minimum fee of $225 applies to systems that are between 10 and 50 gallons for the first 10 gallons, plus $1.25 for each additional gallon up to and including 50 gallons. A hard cap of $650 applies to systems that are 501 gallons or greater.

The BAAQMD and the Metropolitan Transit Commission jointly developed the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program that requires all employers with 50 or more full-time employees in the Bay Area to provide commuter benefits to their employees. This final ruling lays out the four standard benefits that employers must offer one or more of, as well as the administrative requirements for such a program.

Behavior based energy efficiency (BBEE) programs focus on energy savings resulting from changes in individual or organizational behavior and decision-making. In 2010, the Bonneville Power Administration initiated a behavior change strategy which aims to enable, validate and increase the amount and persistence of energy savings achieved through behavior based energy efficiency programs in the Northwest. This webpage contains evaluation reports and research findings from several BBEE pilot programs.