Cost sensitivity and access to financing represent major challenges for families with limited incomes to access the benefits of solar. The good news is, a tried-and-true approach can break down this barrier. On-bill financing is an exciting opportunity to expand residential clean energy efforts into underserved markets. Because the approach involves no money down (and can be designed to be cash-flow positive), it can work for low-income families that are unable to take advantage of rebates or other incentives.
On-bill financing programs tie the investment to the utility meter – not the person – which allows for the on-bill charge to transfer to the next occupant or renter. Coupled with participation eligibility based on good standing utility bill payment history, rather than credit scores, on-bill financing programs expand access to solar energy to everyone.
This webinar will provide information about how on-bill financing programs are helping customers access financing for solar energy and how two utilities in Hawaii and in Arkansas are providing this financing to their customers. The speakers will highlight the ways their on-bill financing programs are allowing customers in underserved markets to go solar.
Please join SEIA, Vote Solar, and guest speakers to hear about on-bill financing programs that are making it possible for low-income families to take advantage of the savings and other benefits solar offers.
Cost: Free for Members and Non-Members
Speakers
- Miguel Yanez, Project Associate, On-Bill Financing Project, Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
- Mark Cayce, CEO of Ouachita Electric Cooperative (Arkansas)
- Gwen Yamamoto Lau, Executive Director, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, State of Hawaii
- Moderator: Melanie Santiago-Mosier, Program Director, Low-Income Solar Access, Vote Solar
- Facilitator: Sara Birmingham, Sr. Director, State Affairs, SEIA
Courtney Kennedy, OPPD Alternative Energy Program Manager, will moderate the panel discussion and facilitate audience questions.
Speakers
Josh Moenning, Norfolk City Mayor and founder of New Power Nebraska
Norfolk’s Community Solar and Battery Storage Project: Mr. Moenning will provide an overview of the City of Norfolk’s planned 8.5-MW community solar project and accompanying battery energy storage system, made possible by a grant award from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.
David Rich, Nebraska Public Power District Sustainable Energy Manager
Mr. Rich will discuss NPPD’s application to the Nebraska Environmental Trust for a 1 MW/2 MWH battery energy storage system in partnership with the City of Norfolk, NPPD’s Request for Proposals, the evaluation of the proposals and current status. Additionally, he will discuss issues raised by the developers regarding potential utilization of the U.S. Investment Tax Credits.
Michal Lisowyj, OPPD Alternative Energy Specialist
The title of Mr. Lisowyj’s presentation is “The Future of Energy Storage” and will include:
- Trends in Energy Storage
- Current and Future Energy Storage Technologies
- Residential Energy Storage
- OPPD and Energy Storage
- The Future of Energy Storage
His presentation is designed to give the audience a brief overview of why energy storage is becoming popular, the technologies being deployed, as well as some that may be used in the future (cryo, pumped, flow, etc.). He will also provide a brief overview of OPPD’s grant application for energy storage. Included, too, will be slides showing how people are using energy storage in their homes.
This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments provided. Reserved parking is available in the lot in front of the Community Engagement Center, near the Durham Bell Tower. Please join us and bring a friend!
The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) will host a webinar to present the key findings and recommendations from a new report that will be released on December 10, 2019.
Solar with Justice: Strategies for Powering Up Under-Resourced Communities and Growing an Inclusive Solar Economy was produced by a team from the Clean Energy States Alliance, the Jackson State University Department of Urban & Regional Planning, the Partnership for Southern Equity, PaulosAnalysis, the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and The Solutions Project.
Members of the team will give an overview of the report and discuss recommendations for actions that different stakeholder groups – including states, community organizations, foundations, the solar industry, and municipalities – can take to ensure solar empowers under-resourced communities and provides tangible financial and wealth-building benefits. More than 90 policymakers, community group leaders, solar experts, and energy equity advocates were interviewed as part of the research for the report.
Speakers:
- Danielle Deane-Ryan, Director of the Inclusive Clean Economy Program, The Nathan Cummings Foundation
- Chandra Farley, Director of the Just Energy Program, Partnership for Southern Equity
- Rudi Navarra, Director of Investments, The Solutions Project
- Warren Leon, Executive Director, CESA (moderator)
This is a free event, but registration is required. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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Investors are asking and companies are reporting, but are they on the same page? As mainstream investors increasingly view companies’ ESG data as a proxy for risk and opportunity, corporate reporters are (finally) finding themselves on the front lines of investor relations.
But the ESG reporting world remains a cacophony of metrics and standards, not to mention different levels and types of disclosure. How can we harmonize the market with more frameworks, guidelines and standards emerging in the sustainability field?
In this one-hour, interactive webcast, we’ll explore some of the issues and challenges confronting corporate reporters on sustainability issues. You’ll hear the latest developments, emerging trends and practical solutions on such topics as:
- How large institutional investors are integrating sustainability (ESG) information in investment and engagement decisions?
- What’s the strategic fit of reporting standards and other frameworks including GRI, SASB, CDP, TCFD and the SDGs in the emerging landscape?
- What would it take for investors to get comparable, consistent and reliable ESG data?
- What would it take for capital markets to award sustainability leadership?
Join us for what promises to be an enlightening conversation with sustainability and global finance leaders on what astute investors and sustainability professionals need to know about the new normal of ESG disclosure expectations, standards and metrics.
We are hosting a roundtable discussion / work party for everyone interested in volunteering to help with and provide your input on our events, programs and projects. We will discuss volunteer opportunities and assemble materials for Earth Day celebrations, Nature Nights and other large events, presentations and hands-on workshops.
At this work party we will put together 1,000 Mini Solar Cooker Kits made from pizza boxes and other materials, which kids of all ages can decorate at Earth Day events and take home to make S’Mores with their families and friends.
This event also provides an opportunity for teachers and after-school program directors to learn more about our Nebraska Solar Schools’ NEED Solar Energy Kits project and, for those who are interested, to fill out an order form for a free kit.
In April 2019 the Nebraska Environmental Trust awarded Nebraska Solar Schools a grant for $31,250 to provide K-12 Nebraska schools with award-winning National Energy Education Development (NEED) solar energy kits for Nebraska schools at no cost to teachers and after-school program directors. There are four NEED grade-level kits available:
The Sun and Its Energy: Grades K-2
Wonders of the Sun: Grades 3-5
Energy from the Sun: Grades 6-8
Exploring Photovoltaics: Grades 9-12
All the materials needed for each lesson plan, project and activity are included in the kits, providing teachers a time-saving and fun way to incorporate solar energy education into their classroom and after-school STEM-based programs. Almost all the curriculum materials in the kits are reusable, and so each kit can be used by multiple teachers. Replacement kits for consumables are available from NEED.Org at a fraction of the cost of the main kit.
Learn more about the NEED Solar Energy Kits and see examples of projects and activities for each grade level here: NEED Solar Energy Kits Project (PDF)
Refreshments provided. Reserved parking is available in the lot in front of the Community Engagement Center.
Questions? Please contact Helen Deffenbacher, Nebraska Solar Schools Facilitator: nebraskansforsolar@gmail.com.