Prof. Dayo Shittu Leads Community Solar Project Workshop

On February 7, 2020, Professor Ekundayo Shittu led a day-long workshop coordinated by the GW Schools of Engineering and Applied Science and Law. The event, entitled “Examining Community Solar Programs to Understand the Role of Policies on Accessibility and Investment Workshop “was funded by the Sloan Foundation’s Division of Energy and Environment. 

 

The workshop attracted a group of solar ecosystem scholars, industry experts, owners, users, financial entities, utilities, municipal officials and other local government representatives discuss the future of community solar projects. It was successful in identifying factors that inform policy development through a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding community solar project throughout the Nation. Information developed in the workshop is providing guidance for practitioners to help craft guidelines regarding the development of appropriate interventions for future community solar projects.

 

Poster at Event

The workshop shed light on the market potential for the adoption of community solar, particularly on accessibility by low and middle income households who have traditionally been unable to access solar power either because of their low income brackets or because they do not have the rooftop to accommodate solar panels. It illuminated an array of multifaceted issues ranging from the absence of standardization, to an assortment of policies, limitations, and complexities of financial mechanisms, to inter-connectivity challenges and the need for consumer education. 

 

The event was structured according to three themes, as summarized below:

 

Theme 1: Barriers to CSP Adoption

• Panel on experiences of utilities from states with and without CSP policies; Victoria Lutterell, Jacob Maddox, Mike Sloan, and Sean Walters

• Panel on perspectives of non-utilities such as NGOs, IPPs with and without favorable local and state initiatives for CSP; David Gahl, Vito Greco, Corwin Homes, Daniel Moring, Vincent Musco, and Corey Ramsden

 

Theme 2: Evaluating Scenarios of Successful Implementation

• Panel on Success stories from utilities, NGOs, and policymakers; Beth Garza, Vito Greco, Genevieve Hulick, Amit Ronen, and  Alexandra Wyatt

• Panel on perspectives  from non pro locations; Meghan Chappel, Benjamin Chee, Brian Keane, and Dan Kreeger

 

Theme 3: Toward a Way Forward – Future Prospects for CSPs

• Panel on policy and regulatory synthesis; David Arfin, Sean Walters, and Pari Kasotia

• Panel on financial mechanisms and alignment; Amit Ronen, Karl Rabago, Pranay Kohli, Alexandra Wyatt, and DOEE representatives

 

Discussants were Benjamin Chee, Vito Greco, Dan Kreeger, Daniel Moring, and Robert Orttung.

 

Panel moderators were Donna Attanasio, Payman Dehghanian, Dor Hirsh Bar Gai, Saniya LeBlanc, Ekundayo Shittu, Scott Sklar, Carmen Weigelt, and Erica Wortham.

 

Other members of the organizing com Donna Attanasio, Payman Dehghanian, Dor Hirsh Bar Gai, Saniya LeBlanc, Ekundayo Shittu, Scott Sklar, Carmen Weigelt, and Erica Wortham