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Friday, October 19, 2018
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The Washington State Solar Summit is an important annual information gathering and networking event for industry stakeholders including manufacturers, installers, utilities, municipalities, legislators/policy makers, educators, students, tribal members, advocacy organizations/nonprofits, distributors, engineers, financial lenders, consultants and more. The Washington State Solar Summit is the must-attend business conference for anyone engaged in solar deployment, education and advocacy in Washington state. Over 250 solar and related industry personnel gathered during the 2018 Washington State Solar Summit to listen and participate in discussions relating to the topics below.
All photos of the 2018 Washington State Solar Summit by Coleman Schwartz Media (www.colemanschwartzmedia.com; FB; @ColemanSchwartzMedia, IG: @coleman0121)
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Conference Schedule
All times, sessions, session titles, speakers, presenters, panelists were subject to change. Click to access a PDF version of the schedule. The PDF version may not reflect last minute speaker changes and cancellations. Presentation files posted by permission from the speakers.
8-9am: Registration & Breakfast
9-9:15am: WELCOME
- Dean Van Vleet, Solar Washington President. Click to view presentation file.
- Master of Ceremonies: Dave Warren, Principal at The Warren Group, LLC, Former Legislative Director, Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands; Former Energy Services Director, WA PUD Association; Former Executive Director, New Mexico Public Utility Commission
9:15-9:55am: STATE OF SOLAR IN USA AND WASHINGTON STATE
- Kendra Hubbard (State of Solar in USA), Board Member of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA); President of Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA); Renewable Advisory Council for Energy Trust of Oregon; Strategic Account Manager with Unirac Inc. Click to view presentation file.
- Lauren McCloy (State of Solar in Washington State), Senior Policy Advisor for Energy to Governor Jay Inslee, Former Legislative Director, WA Utilities and Transportation Commission, Former Legislative Energy Policy Advisor, WA Utilities and Transportation Commission, Former Compliance Investigator, WA Utilities and Transportation Commission attorney, graduate of Tulane University Law School. Click to view presentation file.
SEIA Board Member Kendra Hubbard started off the day with an overview of the changes in the solar landscape over the past year. She discussed the general solar market forecast and trends, and explained the trade tariffs and their market effects. In addition, she presented SEIA’s Code of Ethics and Consumer Protection policies, addressed PV recycling and inspired us with diversity and inclusion insights.
Lauren McCloy, Energy Advisor to Governor Inslee, brought us up to date on solar in our state. She showcased significant public and private projects, summarized the growth of solar over the past decade, and described state policies to advance a clean energy, low carbon future.
10-10:45am: DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN CLEAN ENERGY
- Francis Janes, JUST Program Manager, International Living Future Institute; moderator. Click to view presentation file.
- Nori Catabay, Project Program Manager, King County GreenTools Program. Click to view presentation file.
- Ryan Miller, Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources, Tulalip Tribal Member. Click to view presentation file.
- Sean Bagsby, Membership Development / PAC Director, IBEW Local 77. Did not show slides during presentation.
Shared economic prosperity is essential for all Washingtonians, our economy and the future progress of our state. Due to decades of past policy and investment decisions, there are persistent and deep disparities based on race, ethnicity, income and geography across every measure of economic progress. This session addressed social equity and described the state of equity across a number of key indicators for our region. Panelists discussed various approaches to embedding and infusing a pro-equity approach to our policy development, program implementation, business planning and decision making.
10:45-11am: Networking break
11am-12:30pm: NET METERING 2.0
- Moderated by Sarah Vorpahl, Senior Energy Policy Specialist, Washington State Department of Commerce
- Brian Lips, Senior Project Manager for Policy, Manager of Policy Research, NC Clean Energy Technology Center. Click to view presentation file.
- Jason Keyes, Attorney, Keyes & Fox LLP, Distributed Generation & Renewable Energy Law. Click to view presentation file.
- Jeremy Smithson, Solar Installers of Washington, Puget Sound Solar. Click to view presentation file.
- Leslie Moynihan, Net Metering Program Manager, Puget Sound Energy. Click to view presentation file.
- Bart Hansen, Key Accounts Manager, Clark PUD. Click to view presentation file.
Brian Lips tracked solar across the country and provided a national overview showcasing solutions that are working in other states. Jason Keyes discussed what’s happening in the trend-setting California market which the Oregon and Washington programs often follow. Jeremy Smithson addressed customer-generators’ and installers’ perspective as existing net metering minimum requirements are met. Bart Hansen and Leslie Moynihan fielded questions from the utility perspective.
12:30-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30-2:00pm: INITIATIVE 1631, THE PROTECT WASHINGTON ACT: PURPOSE & IMPACTS
- Nancy Hirsh, Yes on 1631 Spokesperson, Executive Director, Northwest Energy Coalition. Click to view presentation file.
- Allison Arnold, Solar Installers of Washington. Click to view presentation file.
Nancy Hirsh described the Jobs and Clean Energy Coalition, the goals of the Yes on 1631 campaign related to forest protection, carbon pollution, clean energy, and impacted communities. She addressed how the carbon fee will be collected and then spent.
How might passage of I-1631 impact Washington’s solar industry? The Initiative would disburse 70% of the pollution fees collected under the Act to clean air and clean energy programs. Allison Arnold of Solar Installers of Washington reported on new research that models how directing a fraction of these funds to an incentive program for residential, commercial, and community solar deployment could accelerate growth of the solar industry, generating thousands of new solar jobs.
2:00-2:15pm: Networking break
2:15-3:00pm: RENEWABLE ENERGY STATE INCENTIVE PROGRAM (SB 5939)
- Christine Haun, Solid Waste Management, Department of Ecology. Click to view presentation file.
- Jake Fey, Director, WSU Energy Extension Program. Click to view presentation file.
Jake Fey presented analysis and challenges of first year of implementation of SB 5939, the Renewable Energy Systems Incentive Program. He covered data collected to date, provided an update on 2018 incentive payments to customers, and helped us understand the information presented on the program’s website. Christine Haun will provided an update on solar module recycling requirements under SB 5939.
3:00-3:15pm: Networking break
3:15-4:45pm: LEGISLATIVE PANEL – Moderated by Dave Warren
- Sen. John McCoy, LD 38
- Sen. Guy Palumbo, LD 1
- Rep. Beth Doglio, LD 22
- Rep. Jake Fey, LD 27
- Rep. Shelley Kloba, LD 1
Legislators discussed energy related legislation expected to be introduced in 2019 and respond to suggestions about the future of the Renewable Energy Systems Incentive Program (RESIP).
4:45-5:00pm: SUMMARIES & TAKEAWAYS
- Led by Dave Warren
5:00-8:00pm: EVENING NETWORKING RECEPTION
PAST SOLAR SUMMITS PRESENTED BY SOLAR WASHINGTON
Solar Washington has presented the Washington State Solar Summit to bring industry stakeholders together to address important issues relevant to the solar industry in Washington. Click on the following links to view past Solar Summit agenda and supporters.
