Fall 2014 Recap: Distributed Solar Generation for Duke Employees
By Ellis Baehr
On my first day of graduate classes I received an important piece of advice from one of my professors – while classes are necessary to create the foundation for new skills and knowledge, more than half the value gained from my time at Duke will come from involvement outside the classroom. After spending the Fall semester on this Bass Connections team exploring how Duke University can help its employees install residential solar PV systems, I am glad I was listening that first day.
The focus of the group’s efforts has been on identifying and removing barriers that prevent University employees from installing rooftop solar on their homes. One of the major highlights of that process has been the opportunity to engage with experts in solar industry such as:
- David Levine, CEO, Geostellar
- Rob Pinder, Executive Director, NextClimate
- Kathy and Stew Miller, Co-founders, Yes! Solar Solutions
- Casey Collins, Energy Engineer, Duke University
- Jen Weiss, Environment and Energy Finance Analyst, UNC Environmental Finance Center
- Tatjana Vujic, Consultant, TV3 Consulting
Combined with our own research, the insights from these discussions suggest that Duke has a unique opportunity to advance its leadership in environmental solutions by incorporating residential solar into its energy portfolio. Specifically, the group recommends creating an employee benefit program that provides Duke employees priority access to residential solar through three main outputs: quality information, a discounted installation price, and attractive financing options. This recommendation is presented in our scoping document, which we will finalize and post early next semester.
Unfortunately residential solar may no longer be economically feasible after North Carolina State tax credits expire at the end of 2015. Given this deadline, the window of time to implement this program will be limited, though perhaps iterative if future conditions in the residential solar market are favorable. We hope to design and launch a basic pilot program by April in order to provide employees with the opportunity to take advantage of the tax credits before they expire.
Turning this vision into a reality is ambitious at the least, and will require work from the project team in several major areas. The main objectives for the group in the Spring semester include:
- Negotiate reduced installation costs with local solar installers or create our own discounted rate structure using group purchasing through Geostellar
- Establish financing options for employees through the Duke Credit Union
- Work with Duke Law to create a sound legal structure that mitigates any liability concerns with the program
- Develop informational and marketing materials for distribution to employees
- Host a kick-off event that corresponds to opening enrollment in the program
No matter what we accomplish next semester, the best part of this Bass Connections project has been working with colleagues and faculty of different expertise and experience. The value in such a strong, dynamic network of people committed to energy management and sustainability is tremendous. Importantly, it is difficult to change the world alone, and I am excited to be collaborating with others who are committed to a clean energy future.
Ultimately, the reason I came to Duke was to become an energy problem solver – someone who can deliver viable solutions to advance energy alternatives that are efficient, effective, and affordable. Participating in the Bass Connections project has allowed me to pursue that passion while contributing to the development and leadership of Duke University. I am eager to continue this project next semester, and am excited for what we have in store!