Solar Energy Law Program

Seminar: Solar Energy Law & Policy

California Energy Overview: supply & demand

California Solar Energy Policies, Pricing, Regulations & Incentives
Challenges: hedging, maintenance, & process complexities

Solar Technologies Overview: electric (PV), thermal, on/off grid, utility-scale

Market Segments: residential, commercial, multifamily, wholesale
Utility Rate Cases for Electricity & Natural Gas

Acquisition Models & Financing

Licensing & Permitting Issues

This intensive seminar is optimized for Lawyers, Investors (institutional or venture capital), Business Analysts, and others working on Energy Policy issues for governments, non-profits or utilities. All case studies used in the course are California-specific, since 80% of the solar installations in the country are in California, and California has the most mature (and complex) regulatory structures for solar energy. However, the concepts are instructive to anyone working on renewable energy law & policy nationwide.

Hotel Package: For students traveling to one of our training centers we offer a subsidized lodging package that includes a hotel suite and free shuttle transportation (no need for a rental car) from the Newark or San Jose airports (EWR & SJC, respectively) for most arrival times.

Topic Outline

The Big Picture
• Demand for electricity
• Demand for natural gas
• Peak demand for electricity
• Sources of electricity

California Energy Policies
• Renewable Portfolio Standard
• AB 32 Greenhouse Gas Regulations
• Building Energy Efficiency
• Energy Efficiency
• Demand Response
• Dynamic Pricing
• Distributed generation
• California Air Quality Policies
• Zero Energy Buildings
• Net metering

Relationship of Air Quality to Energy Consumption
• Gas
• Electricity

Solar Technologies Overview
• On site electric generation
• On site thermal generation
• Off site electric generation
• Off site thermal generation
• Utility scale electric generation
• Utility scale thermal electric generation

Market Segments
• Single family residential existing
• Single family residential new
• Tract
• Custom
• Multifamily existing
• Multifamily new
• Affordable and Low income housing
• Commercial
• Wholesale
• RPS Solicitation
• Bilateral
• Feed in tariff

Retail Electricity & Natural Gas Rates
• Rate cases – what are they?
• Utilities – Investor owned and publicly owned
• Rate case components
• Forecast of demand
• Forecast of revenue needed for cost of service
• Estimate of customers per customer class
• Settlements
• AB 1x
• CARE

Acquisition Models
• Cash
• Finance
• 3rd Party
• Lease
• Municipal financing

Incentives
• State rebate for PV
• State rebate for Solar Thermal
• Federal tax credit for PV & Thermal
• Depreciation
• Local rebates

Local Factors
• Permitting
• Licensing
• Fire Services
• Union/prevailing wage
• Homeowner’s Associations
• Shading
• Solar easements

Challenges & Issues
• Policy Uncertainty (expanding or replacing systems, applying rebates, taxable or not)
• Hedging
• Complexity of administrative processes
• Challenges for customers to find accurate information
• Service and maintenance
• Warranties
• Training