Pennsylvania's Solar Future Plan Webinar, May 17

Over 80 people joined us on a webinar to review the feedback from our expert academic reviewers, along with receiving additional updates that we've made to the Solar Future Plan. We also discussed the agenda for the June 14th meeting, and provided an opportunity for questions and answers. If you weren't able to participate we recommend that you view the ppt slides (PowerPoint) and/or listen to the webinar (MP3) prior to attending the June 14th Stakeholder meeting.

Stakeholder Meeting, March 8, Energy Innovation Center, Pittsburgh

• Meeting recordings
1. Comments (MP3)
2. Modeling (MP3)
3. Keynote (MP3)
4. Feedback (MP3)
• Welcome, Introduction – David Althoff Jr., Department of Environmental Protection (PDF)
• Opening Remarks – Tom Bartnik, Penn State Center Pittsburgh
• Current Status and Goals – Rob Altenburg, PennFuture (PDF)
• Modeling Report/Presentation – Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (PDF)
• Draft Plan: Summary of Comments – Rob Altenburg
• Lunch and Keynote Presentation– Chris Hoagland, MDE, "Maryland's Experience with Power Sector Carbon Reduction Strategies" (PDF)
• Discussion of Pennsylvania's Solar Future Draft Plan (PDF)

Stakeholder Meeting, December 7, Widener University, Harrisburg

• Agenda (PDF) | Video (MP4)
• Introduction:
• Welcome, Introduction – David Althoff Jr., Department of Environmental Protection
• Opening Remarks – Dean Christian A. Johnson, Widener Law Commonwealth
• Project Roadmap (PPTX) – Rob Altenburg, Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future
• Modeling Report (PPTX)
• Presented by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
• Panel Discussion: Community Solar
• Maureen Mulligan, Sustainable Futures Communications LLC, Harrisburg (Moderator) Solar
• Jessica Ennis, Earth Justice
• Justin Wilson, Clean Energy Collective, Coalition for Community Solar Access
• Nicole Steele, Grid Alternatives
• Lunch and Keynote (lunch provided)
• PAPUC Vice Chairman Andrew Place
• Information on breakout sessions
• Rob Altenburg – Workgroup Facilitators
• Workgroup breakout sessions (Note these were not recorded)
• Regulatory and Ratemaking – led by Ron Celentano, PA Solar Industries Association
• Markets and Business Models – led by Sharon Pillar, Solar Unified Network of Western PA
• Operations and Interconnection – led by Professor Jeffrey Brownson, PhD, Pennsylvania State University

Low Income And Community Solar: Webinar, December 4

Over 100 stakeholders participated in this discussion of the benefits of solar energy at all socioeconomic levels and what steps might the Commonwealth take to ensure this. Conversations and questions about job training, and barriers to and opportunities for greater access to solar energy in the affordable-housing and low-income communities were discussed.

If you weren't able to participate, we highly recommend viewing the webinar (MP4).

Speakers:

• Erica McConnell (PPTX), Special Counsel, Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger--Overview of what's going on across the United States in low income solar and their work with Interstate Renewable Energy Council
• Anya Schoolman (PPTX), Executive Director, Solar United Neighbors—Successful low-income models.
• Andrew Kleeman (PPTX), Energy Executive, SVP Energy Solutions—His experience in Pennsylvania as a solar company owner and energy efficiency project manager, as well as his work on low income solar at ECA Energy Coordinating Agency and ECO-SAVERS.

Meeting Prep Webinar, November 16

Approximately 85 stakeholders participated in this discussion of the project progress so far and our project deliverables. Thank you!

Work group facilitators walked through pivotal factors and strategies gathered so far and how they'll factor into the Pennsylvania Solar Future Plan, while attendees asked questions and provided comments.

If you weren't able to participate, we highly recommend viewing the webinar (MP4) prior to the December 7 stakeholder meeting.

Third Stakeholder Meeting: September 14, 2017, Villanova University, Radnor, PA

• Agenda (PDF)
• Introduction:PowerPoint (PDF) | Audio (MP3)
• Dave Althoff, Principal Investigator
• Panel Discussion: Solar Energy Ownership and Investment: Audio (MP3)
• Maureen Mulligan, Sustainable Futures Communications LLC, Harrisburg (Moderator)
• Ethan Case, Policy Analyst, Cypress Creek Renewables, Asheville, NC
• John McCawley, Director, Energy Acquisition, PECO Energy, Philadelphia
• Pennsylvania Solar Energy Development Outcomes Modeling Report:
  Audio (MP3) | PowerPoint (PPT) | Overview (Word)
• Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
• Keynote: Solar's Integration into the PJM Grid and Renewable Energy Reliability (PDF)

Alternative Ratemaking Webinar, August 23, 2017

Thanks to the approximately 75 stakeholders who participated in the webinar discussing alternative ratemaking potential impact on PA's Solar Future.

Three presenters: Karl Rabago Executive (Director of Pace Energy and Climate Center), Eric Miller (of KEEA) and Alan Cohn (Manager of Regulatory Strategy, PECO) explored topics such as: the value of solar, time of use rates, buy all/sell all tariffs, etc. Each presenter provided a 15-minute presentation followed by 30 minutes of questions, answers and discussion among the panel. We highly recommend all stakeholders view the webinar (MP4) prior to the September 14^th stakeholder meeting.

Second Stakeholders Meeting: Thursday, June 8, 2017
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA

• Agenda (PDF)
• Attendance list (PDF)
• A Look at Energy Innovations at Carnegie Mellon and Pittsburgh (MP4, 139 MB)
• Finding Pennsylvania's Solar Future: Project Overview (MP4, 109 MB)
• Models: Business-as-Usual vs 10% Increased Solar Energy in Pennsylvania by 2030 (MP4, 479 MB)
• Where Are Municipalities Heading in Renewable Energy? (MP4, 453 MB)
• Operations and Systems Workgroup Notes (PDF)
• Markets and Business Models Notes (PDF)
• Rates and Ratemaking Notes (PDF)

Modeling Webinar: May 8, 2017

Thanks to the approximately 50 stakeholders who participated in the webinar on long-range energy alternatives planning (LEAP) modeling (MP4) for Finding Pennsylvania's Solar Future. Staff from Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) covered about 20 questions submitted in advance, as well as excellent inquiries along the way. The webinar provided interested stakeholders with a great opportunity for further insight into the modeling process. VEIC also gave us a heads up on some of the baseline modeling information they plan to present at the June 8 stakeholder meeting. We highly recommend that all project participants view the webinar at the above link prior to the June 8 meeting.

Project Kickoff Stakeholders Meeting: March 2, 2017,
Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg:

• Participants List (PDF)
• Finding Pennsylvania's Solar Future (PDF)
• VEIC: Pennsylvania's Solar Future Kickoff Meeting (PDF)
• Kick off Meeting Agenda (PDF)