Resource Library

Sonoma Clean Power, formed in 2012, provides residential and business customers across Sonoma County with the option of using environmentally friendly power generated by renewable sources (like solar, wind, and geothermal) at competitive rates.

The Sonoma County Community Climate Action Plan, which outlines a package of solutions to meet Sonoma County’s greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target of 25% below 1990 levels by 2015, recommends that the County improve distributed generation and energy efficiency at wastewater treatment facilities with biogas systems and specialized waste digesters.

This is a simplified (1) page interconnection application form for qualifying systems. Qualifying systems are those under 10kW, using UL approved equipment, with a load side connection and no backup generator.

This resource guide outlines various options available for consumers to finance solar energy systems on homes and businesses in Southern California. It lists more than 30 programs in the region that offer loans and financial assistance for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and other comprehensive, as well as provides information on the minimum and maximum amount of loans a consumer can receive, the interest rates, loan terms and contact information.

This weatherization services application from the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission is one example non-English language clean energy resources. Importantly, it provides a point-of-contact telephone number for Spanish speakers.

The new Solar Powering America by Recognizing Communities (SPARC) program will establish a national recognition and a no-cost technical assistance program for local governments. The SPARC designation will spur communities across the country to earn recognition for achievements that distinguish them from their peers as they become more solar-friendly, and in doing so, ignite local solar markets while establishing consistency in solar practices across the country. Final criteria for the SPARC program will not be available until spring 2016, but there is now a limited opportunity for a select few communities to join an elite group of "SPARC Early Adopters" and gain access to exclusive program benefits. Visit the website at the link below to learn more and sign up.

Any city or county in Iowa may pass an ordinance assessing wind energy conversion equipment at a special valuation for property tax purposes, beginning at 0% of the net acquisition cost in the first assessment year and increasing annually by five percentage points to a maximum of 30% of the net acquisition cost in the 7th and succeeding years

Ohio’s PACE authority is contained in Ohio House Bill 1, enacted on July 17, 2009, and Ohio Senate Bill 232, enacted on June 4, 2010 and effective June 17, 2010. HB 1 allows Ohio municipalities and townships to assist property owners in financing solar improvements benefiting their properties via the creation of a special improvement district. Ohio Senate Bill 232 expands Ohio’s PACE legislation beyond solar to include wind, geothermal, biomass, gasification and energy efficiency technologies.

Spot network interconnection best practices and standards

This standard plan can be used as a submittal document for PV permit applications. It enables applicants to “fill in the blanks” to explain the electrical configuration of a solar PV system, reducing omissions and errors within permit applications. This standard plan is for small PV systems using micro inverters.

This standard plan can be used as a submittal document for PV permit applications. It enables applicants to “fill in the blanks" to explain the electrical configuration of a solar PV system, reducing omissions and errors within permit applications. The first link is for PV systems using string inverters, the second link is for micro inverters. Each document is (10) pages.

External Disconnect Switch best practices and standards

Section 5.4 of the EPA Clean Energy- Environment Guide to Action summarizes the benefits of standard interconnection rules and highlights best practices.

Designed to raise industry standards and promote consumer confidence, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioner offers certification and certificate programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America. Visit the source link below to access the program webpage.

This recommended practice provides guidance for the planning and design of bus rapid transit (BRT) service, including routing, service hours and frequencies and service issues related to scheduling and operations. Included are general service design principles and practices and specific service design issues related to various types of BRT facilities and approaches.

This recommended practice provides guidance for the planning and design of bus rapid transit (BRT) service, including routing, service hours and frequencies and service issues related to scheduling and operations. Included are general service design principles and practices and specific service design issues related to various types of BRT facilities and approaches.

California Executive Order B-18-12 directed that State agencies shall reduce overall water use at the facilities they operate by 10% by 2015 and 20% by 2020 as measured against a 2010 baseline. The State's Department of Water Resources (DWR) has developed this Guidelines and Criteria with four components. State agencies are required to implement the four components. The first component is a quantitative inventory of water using fixtures and appliances in state buildings and a measurement of landscape area and assessment of irrigation equipment. The second component is a set of Best Management Practices for ongoing water use efficiency in buildings and landscapes. The third component is large landscape water use tracking, if agency has landscape greater than 20,000 square feet. The fourth component is monitoring, reporting, oversight and compliance.

This page hosts a list of state and local energy-related resources for school districts across California, organized by region. The linked resource document was published by the California Energy Commission for school districts across the state.

State and local governments can offer a number of incentives to encourage the private development of green buildings. This fact sheet details the most common types of incentives offered by jurisdictions across the country, including streamlined permitting processes for new constructions or renovations. These clean energy incentives run the gamut, and state and local governments can choose a range of options based on the fiscal outlook, the current level of development activity, and the scope of the green building program desired. Expedited permitting is discussed at the bottom of page 9.

State and local governments can offer a number of incentives to encourage the private development of green buildings. This fact sheet details the most common types of incentives offered by jurisdictions across the country, including streamlined permitting processes for new constructions or renovations.

State and local governments across the country are taking bold steps to protect the environment and cut energy costs by adopting policies that leverage ENERGY STAR. The following website displays a sampling of state and local government policy measures that refer to ENERGY STAR in their requirements.

The Maine Legislature enacted legislation in 2009 to provide incentives for the development of community-based renewable projects. These projects must be “locally owned electricity generating facilities” (51% or more of the facility must be owned by “qualifying local owners”) and must not exceed 10 MW. The first hyperlink provides model language for states interested in proposing a community solar pilot project. The second hyperlink displays a progress report on the pilot program two years after implementation.

Colorado HB 10-1342 allows for the creation of a community solar garden (CSG) by a subscriber organization whose sole purpose is owning and operating the CSG. This document provides model language for states that are interested in proposing legislation that authorizes community solar ownership models.

This model ordinance provides language and definitions such as a PACE agreement, assessment, district, loan, and mortgage, among others. Additionally, this document discusses program administration and liability of municipal officials.

In 2010 the Missouri legislature enacted the "Property Assessed Clean Energy Act." The act allows municipalities (county, city, or incorporated town or village) to create Clean Energy Development Boards, which in turn are permitted to develop local PACE programs to finance energy efficiency improvements or renewable energy improvements. This resource provides model language for state-level policymakers that are considering introducing legislation to allow for a local PACE option.