Iowa Solar Readiness InitiativeMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
band
AI- America City
1
2007 • 2012 • 2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque's Participation in Iowa Economic Development Authority's Iowa
Solar Readiness Initiative
DATE: October 29, 2013
Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach recommends City Council approval
for Dubuque to participate in the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Iowa Solar
Readiness Initiative, funded through the US Department of Energy's Rooftop Solar
Challenge II Sunshot grant.
In March 2013, Dubuque submitted a letter of intent to participate as a pilot community
in the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Solar Readiness Initiative should it be
funded in the competitive US DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge II Sunshot grant. The Iowa
Economic Development Authority, in partnership with the Iowa Association of Municipal
Utilities, submitted the application to the program designed to reduce administrative
barriers to the solar marketplace and make the process of going solar simpler, faster
and more cost effective for residents and businesses. Iowa was the only Midwest state
chosen as a grant recipient.
Benefits of being a pilot city include leading the state and nation in local government
cooperation to streamline permitting, zoning, and inspection processes for solar by
working towards smarter administrative processes. Pilot cities will receive researched
solutions and best practices at minimal inconvenience and cost throughout pilot
technical assistance team. They will become "solar- ready" in order to better serve
residents and businesses who want to invest in clean and independent sources of
energy.
As a pilot city, Dubuque will be required to create an action plan, implement the action
items identified in the plan, and attend trainings and workshops sponsored as part of the
initiative. Funding will be awarded based on the aggressiveness of the action plan
goals created by City staff. The range for funding will be between $30,000 and $50,000
over the two and a half year grant period. The City will be required to provide a 20%
match to whatever funds are provided by the State. This match can be cash or in -kind
(staff time).
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligan
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
2
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator
SUBJECT: Dubuque's Participation in IEDA Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative
DATE: October 28, 2013
Dubuque
band
AI- America City
1
2007 • 2012 • 2013
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request Council approval for Dubuque to participation in
the Iowa Economic Development Authority's Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative, an
initiative funded through the US Department of Energy's Rooftop Solar Challenge II
Sunshot grant.
BACKGROUND
In March 2013, the City submitted a letter of intent to participate as a pilot community in
IEDA's Solar Readiness Initiative should it be funded in the competitive US DOE
Rooftop Solar Challenge II Sunshot grant. IEDA, in partnership with the Iowa
Association of Municipal Utilities, submitted the application to the program designed to
reduce administrative barriers to the solar marketplace and make the process of going
solar simpler, faster and more cost effective for residents and businesses. Iowa was
the only Midwest state chosen as a grant recipient.
Benefits of being a pilot city include leading the state and nation in local government
cooperation to streamline permitting, zoning, and inspection processes for solar by
working towards smarter administrative processes. Pilot cities will receive researched
solutions and best practices at minimal inconvenience and cost throughout pilot
technical assistance team. They will become "solar- ready" in order to better serve
residents and businesses who want to invest in clean and independent sources of
energy. In addition to Dubuque, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Ames, Des Moines, Linn
County, and Floyd County have committed to being pilots.
DISCUSSION
As a pilot city, Dubuque will be required to create an action plan, implement the action
items identified in the plan, and attend trainings and workshops sponsored as part of the
initiative. Funding will be awarded based on the aggressiveness of the action plan goals
created by City staff. The range for funding will be between $30,000 and $50,000 over
the two and a half year grant period.
BUDGET IMPACT
The City will be required to provide a 20% match to whatever funds are provided by the
State. This match can be cash or in -kind (staff time).
RECOMMENDATION
I respectfully request City Council approval of the attached letter and resolution,
indicating Dubuque's commitment to participate in the Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative.
cc: Rich Russell, Building Services Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
2
IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
200 Last Grand Avenuo I Dos Moinos, Iowa 50309 USA I Phono: 515.725,3000
iowaeconomicdevelopment.com
Dubuque City Council
50 W 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Mayor Buol:
i. a/'t i�;.`r(`)4 €16 11t
Iowa Economic Development Authority, in partnership with Iowa Environmental Council and Iowa
Association of Municipal Utilities would like to formally invite the City of Dubuque to be a pilot city in
the Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative. The Iowa Solar Readiness Initiative is a part of the Department of
Energy's Rooftop Solar Challenge II, a nationwide effort to reduce administrative barriers to the solar
marketplace and make the process of going solar simpler, faster, and more cost effective for residents
and businesses.
Benefits of being a pilot city include leading the state and nation in local government cooperation to
streamline permitting, zoning, and inspection processes for solar by working towards smarter
administrative processes. Pilot cities will receive researched solutions and best practices at minimal
inconvenience and cost throughout pilot technical assistance team. They will become "solar- ready" in
order to better serve residents and businesses who want to invest in clean and independent sources of
energy.
As a pilot city, Dubuque will be required to create an action plan, implement the action items identified
in the plan, and attend trainings and workshops sponsored as part of the initiative. Funding will be
awarded based on the aggressiveness of the action plan goals. The range for funding will be between
$30,000 and $50,000 over the two and a half year grant period.
Each pilot city will also commit to a 20% match for the grant funds, which can be in the form of staff
time or other project expenses. Note that solar project installations are not an eligible funding item
under this grant.
We look forward to working with Dubuque on this exciting new initiative.
Paritosh I<asotia
Energy Office Leader
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Pa ritosh.kasotiapiowa.gov
515 - 725 -0434
Governor Terry E. Branstad 1 Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds 1 Director Debi V. Durham
RESOLUTION NO. 320 -13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DUBUQUE, APPROVING AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE IOWA SOLAR READINESS INITIATIVE AS A PILOT LOCAL
GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION
WHEREAS, IN March of 2013, the city of Dubuque executed a letter of intent with the Iowa
Economic Development Authority (IEDA) to participate in the Department of Energy (DOE)
Rooftop Solar Challenge II SunShot Grant; and
WHEREAS, in August of 2013, the IEDA along with the partner organizations Iowa
Environmental Council (IEC) and Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU) were advised
that they had been awarded the grant, which includes proposed work with pilot local
government organization; and
WHEREAS, increasing the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology can increase energy
independence, create or expand jobs for local businesses, reduce strains on the local electric
grid, result in locally improved air quality, increase local investment in energy technology, and
help mitigate the risk of fluctuations in energy prices; and
WHEREAS, the goals of Rooftop Solar Challenge II Sunshot Grant and the Iowa Solar
Readiness Initiative include reducing the costs and other barriers to installing solar PV for
businesses, residents, and communities; and
WHEREAS, the cost of solar PV equipment has declined in recent years, while other costs
associated with solar PV, such as the cost of permitting, inspection, connecting to the grid, and
financing, may not have declined; and
WHEREAS, the city of Dubuque supports efforts to reduce the costs and other barriers
associated with solar PV in order to facilitate the efforts of interested residents, businesses,
utilities, and others in the city to install solar PV; and
WHEREAS, the city of Dubuque has already undertaken efforts to promote sustainability,
encourage use of energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as [INSERT IF APPLICABLE];
and,
WHEREAS, city ordinances, policies, and practices have the potential to reduce the costs and
other barriers associated with installing solar PV; and
WHEREAS, the city of Dubuque, in consultation with IEDA, IEC, and IAMU, has evaluated its
ordinances and practices using the Department of Energy's Solar Market Maturity Model and
using this information will develop an action plan that includes reasonable steps to reduce costs
and barriers that can be evaluated over a reasonable period of time; and
WHEREAS, the city is eligible for grant funds from the Rooftop Solar Challenge II SunShot grant
to offset the costs of evaluating and potentially implementing the steps to reduce costs and
barriers to the installation of solar PV.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF DUBUQUE:
The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute an agreement with the IEDA to become a
pilot local government under the Rooftop Solar Challenge II Sunshot grant and Iowa Solar
Readiness Initiative in order to reduce the costs and barriers associated with installing solar PV
in the city of Dubuque.
Passed, approved and adopted this 4th day of November, 2013.
ATTEST:
Kevin irnstahl, City Clerk
(91„,
Roy D. ol, Mayor