Tompkins County, NY

Initial Status: County does not issue permits, but did bring this issue to the COG for exploration by local AHJs

Guidance: Goal achieved. County brought the NYSERDA Unified Solar Permit to the attention of the Council of Governments (COG) and streamlined permits are being promoted by the local Smart Energy Policy collaboration (at least 2 communities have already adopted). County should continue to encourage additional towns and villages within the county to adopt the New York State Unified Solar Permit for qualifying projects under 12kW.

Initial Status: State law allows for creation of solar easements and solar access provisions in local zoning code

Guidance: Work to educate the local jurisdictions on the value of solar rights. Encourage them to create local ordinances which protect solar access by ensuring property remains shade-free and establishing a process for creating, registering, and enforcing solar easements. Find more information on the existing state law at www.dsireusa.org/solar/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY01R&re=1&ee=1

Initial Status: No solar ready standards in place currently

Guidance: Work to educate the local jurisdictions and private builder groups on the value of solar-ready construction standards, and encourage implementation of municipal ordinances which require new homes and buildings to be built solar-ready

Initial Status: Some language in the County's Comp Plan (added in 2008) as well as the Cleaner Greener Regional Plan

Guidance: Goal achieved. If updated or more specific solar-related language is desired for the Comp Plan update, ASTI team can help identify good resources.

Initial Status: No local HOAs are known to have solar restrictions

Guidance: No known issues currently. If issues arise, find resources herein for guidance on working with condo owner and homeowners associations to ensure that their covenant, conditions, and restrictions and bylaws do not create undue barriers to solar installations.

Initial Status: No program currently, though commercial PACE has been discussed. Too many barriers for residential

Guidance: Establish a working group to evaluate the potential of a commercial PACE financing program for clean energy upgrades in the County. The state has authorized municipalities to offer loan programs for energy improvements using funding from federal grant assistance or federal credit support mechanisms including direct loans, loan guarantees, and debt instruments. Learn more about PACE in New York at http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=NY68F&re=0&ee=0

Initial Status: Alternatives FCU and Tompkins Trust both have loan programs.

Guidance: Sufficient finance options are currently in place via local institutions and the NYSERDA low-interest loan program for EERE upgrades.

Initial Status: Some awareness within community

Guidance: Publicize the availability of local solar finance options and solar evaluation tools for potential buyers. This can be done via webinars, marketing materials, or by providing links and information online. The Solar Tompkins program will be working to publish this information during the next year.

Initial Status: Successful campaign (incl solar PV and solar thermal) encompassing 3 Towns was implemented in 2013

Guidance: County is currently supporting a second round of the residential aggregated purchase campaign focused on PV which includes the entire County.

Initial Status: County and some municipalities already have solar at most viable sites. May still be some potential.

Guidance: Consider collaborating with agencies across the region to aggregate government facilities, including municipal buildings and schools, for solar evaluation and cost-effective procurement to demonstrate leadership and reduce energy costs while strengthening the economy and environment.

Initial Status: County doesn't operate WTFs, but does have a couple closed landfills and a regional airport.

Guidance: The airport is currently being evaluated for solar. Consider evaluating solar feasibility at the landfill sites as well.

Initial Status: County does have brownfield sites (though none receiving EPA funding). None have solar currently.

Guidance: One site offering an opportunity for solar is an existing 700,000 sqft industrial site which is being redeveloped as a mixed use building. Encourage the consulting team working on the redevelopment of this property to explore potential for solar (and other renewables) as appropriate.

Initial Status: Local college has some training programs, and local and regional installers have good qualifications

Guidance: Regional workforce is well-informed

Initial Status: Both Solar Tompkins and the cooperative extension are working on solar outreach and education.

Guidance: Efforts ongoing via the programs mentioned above, as well as the Solar Roadmap landing page.