Resource Library

The information in this toolkit is based on HWMA’s experience with the initial permitting steps and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental review process required to establish a food waste digester in Humboldt County. It contains the following information: a timeline of the key permitting steps taken, an overview of the current regulatory environment, a list of potential impacts and mitigation measures, and a description of the lessons learned during this process.

Large, utility-scale wind energy systems have different impacts than small systems, and they require a completely different set of ordinance requirements to protect local communities from potential negative impacts of turbine siting and construction. This excerpt of a larger guide discusses permitting and zoning requirements and considerations for these larger projects.

Effective November 21, 2006, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers installing inverter-based systems will no longer be required to include an AC disconnect switch when the facility has a self-contained electric revenue meter. This type of meter is used by 98% of all PG&E customers. Visit the URL in the Source section below to view the PG&E webpage explaining this policy.

This webpage on PG&E's site explains how to read monthly NEM statements. PG&E is now sending NEM customers one simplified bill a month, and a new format makes it easier to understand monthly charges for NEM service. Customers still receive an annual True-up statement after 12 billing months, to reconcile credits and charges for the billing cycle. The first hyperlink below explains the monthly NEM statement, and the second the annual true-up. Visit the URL in the Source section below to see this information on PG&E's website.

Pacific Gas & Electric's award-winning utility community outreach and public awareness program website provides customers and contractors with useful information about how and why to go solar, including online educational courses, cost and production calculators and marketing campaign materials. The hyperlink displays the program webpage. Visit source link below to access program documents and tools.

PG&E has created a map to help contractors and developers identify potential project sites. The map provides the location of selected electric transmission lines, distribution lines and associated substations within the PG&E service areas. In addition, the map also provides specific information, such as operating voltages, line capacity and substation names. First time visitors must create a username and password to access the map. The hyperlink is a screenshot of the map. Visit the URL in the Source section below to access the map.

Pacific Gas & Electric's Energy Watch Partnerships create a close-working relationship with local governments to help them develop and implement energy management plans so that they can achieve objectives related to sustainability and climate change. PG&E provides incentives, tools and technical assistance that support and empower local governments in their efforts. Most partnerships work directly with the community to provide energy analyses to residential and small business customers, and several provide energy efficiency equipment to moderate-income residents. More information about Energy Watch partnership programs can be found on PG&E's website.

This City's General plan for 2005-2025 inlcudes an Energy element with a policy addressing solar energy within the City. Policy 7 promotes renewable energy with a 10-step program to achieve this policy.

This handbook answers basic questions about plug-in electric vehicles and charging equipment, helps organizations assess whether they should offer workplace charging for employees, and outlines important steps for implementation.

The California Vehicle Code (CVC) provides local governments the authority to place traffic control devices in their jurisdictions (including county highways) to guide, warn and regulate traffic as necessary to carry out the provisions of the CVC and local traffic ordinances. Traffic Operations Policy Directive 13-01 includes several plug-in electrical vehicle signs and pavement markings for communities. These signs that restrict parking to PEVs, or limit the amount of time a vehicle can be parked, must be supported by local codes to become legally enforceable. The following example is adapted from the City of Santa Monica’s Municipal Code.

The City of Palo Alto's Plug-In Electric Vehicle Ordinance goes beyond the California Building Code to require that all new multi-family developments, office buildings, and hotels provide the needed circuitry for easy installation of electric vehicle supply equipment.

Local governments play a pivotal role in ensuring that communities have a viable transportation and recreation system that supports walking and bicycling through local policy initiatives. This resource was originally formulated for use by Kansas local governments, but it contains lessons and best practices for communities nationwide. It describes different types of policies that local governments can use to increase bicycling and walking within their communities, and can be used to determine what policy levers can be tailored for your community to increase walking and bicycling. This resource provides specific examples to illustrate how each of these policies have been used to increase walking and bicycling in local communities.

This toolkit provides essential resources for designing community shared solar programs. Considering that every state and utility territory is different and that shared solar programs need to dovetail effectively with existing policies, it is important to understand a state’s renewables programs and policy options before working to make legislative or regulatory changes. Visit the source link below to access the toolkit webpage.

This document identifies and describes five steps for implementing geothermal policies that may reduce barriers and result in deployment and implementation of geothermal heating and cooling technologies, such as ground source heat pumps (GSHP) and direct-use applications.

Will County is one of many counties and municipalities in Illinois whose approval process for siting polluting facilities is more stringent than that of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agencies. Site location suitability is evaluated in accordance with a detailed set of criteria.

This report examines five public schools that have reduced their electricity use by an astonishing 20 to 37 percent through successful behavior-based strategies. The strategies they have employed are synthesized into a“how-to toolkit for schools everywhere.

This fact sheet provides information and guidance on the solar power purchase agreement (PPA), which is a third-party financing mechanism that state and local government entities can use to acquire clean, renewable energy. This fact sheet is written to support decision makers in state and local governments who are aware of solar PPAs and may have a cursory knowledge of their structure but they still require further information before committing to a particular project.

In December 2013, Santa Clara County adopted an ordinance requiring either pre-wiring or the installation of charging systems for Plug in Electric Vehicles (PEV) in new buildings in unincorporated areas. The ordinance requires that new buildings install conduit and ensure electrical panel capacity to enable the future installation of Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment. For new non-residential and multi-family residential buildings that install more than 100 new parking spaces, the Ordinance requires the installation of a Level 2 Plug in Electric Vehicle Charging system to 1% of the parking spaces.

This resource provides a model step-by-step procedure for permitting solar energy systems in historic districts.

This resource targets federal site managers, site contractors, and procurement specialists, but is also useful for local governments looking to partner with the federal government to install solar on federal land in their region. Visit the source link below for background information. The hyperlink provides a guide to help navigate the process towards a successful solar installation by providing step-by-step information, case studies, and additional resources.

The purpose of this section of the Guide is to provide brief, user-friendly descriptions of regionally appropriate tools that a regional planning organization can utilize to promote solar energy deployment. The toolkit is meant to be used along with the rest of the publication, but is a one-stop-shop for those looking for regional approaches to solar implementation.

Efficiency Maine's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan program enables eligible homeowners to perform building envelope and heating system upgrades, such as weatherization work or installing heat pumps. More information about eligibility requirements, loan terms, and program guidelines can be found on Efficiency Maine's website and the attached fact sheet.

Vermont's PACE Program can be used to finance residential energy efficiency improvements for single-family homes and multi-family residences with up to four units. The following documents outline the program guidelines, such as who is eligible and how to apply, and eligible renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, including energy audits, biomass heating systems, and building envelope and heating system upgrades.

The City of Cleveland’s Residential Tax Abatement program is the temporary elimination of 100% of the increase in real estate property tax for eligible projects. It is available to stimulate investment in new development or redevelopment in the City of Cleveland. The length or term of abatement varies from 10 to 15 years depending on type of project. Residents and developers seeking tax abatement for residential projects must meet Cleveland Green Building Standards.

In August 2008 the State of New York enacted legislation allowing a property tax abatement for photovoltaic (PV) system expenditures made on buildings located in cities with a population of 1 million or more people (New York City). Eligible buildings include all real property except utility real property. The abatement allows building owners to deduct from their total real property taxes* a portion of the expenditures associated with installing a PV system on an eligible building. The total property tax benefit can amount to either 35%, 20%, or 10% of the installed system cost depending on when it is built.