Solar - Passive

City of San Diego - Development Regulations

San Diego’s Supplemental Development Regulations passed initially in 1997 but since has had many additions and alterations, some as recent as 2020. San Diego’s Supplemental Development Regulations require that a “Shadow Plan” be developed when it is determined that structures or landscaping within a proposed development may have an impact on neighboring property’s access to solar exposure. This is intended to ensure that potential impacts to solar access will be minimized. (§143.0410 section i)

The Shadow Plan is further fleshed out in §151.0301 – Permitted Development Controls. Detailing that “when, in the opinion of the City Manager, structures

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PACE Massachusetts Financing

Note:  In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activity subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation for more information about PACE financing

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City of Minneapolis - Solar Access and Easement Laws

The purpose of this policy is to help define appropriate locations for solar energy systems, to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses, and to promote safe and effective use of solar energy to increase opportunities for renewable energy generation.

In general, solar energy systems are allowed in all zoning districts. Solar energy system must comply with the minimum yard requirements of the district where they are located. Screening of solar energy systems is not required. All lots in subdivisions of forty (40) acres or more shall be platted in an orientation to maximize solar exposure.

For building-mounted solar energy systems, the

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Santa Clara County - Solar Access Easements

In proposed subdivisions where a building configuration has been developed solar access easements shall be designed to protect solar access to proposed south roof and south wall areas and any proposed site for a solar energy system. For those subdivisions that have not been developed, solar access to the southernmost boundary of the buildable portion of a lot shall be protected. In establishing the dimensions of a solar access easement, specific considerations must be made.

In cases where a building configuration is not able to reasonably protect solar access to a proposed south facing element, the advisory agency may require

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Santa Clara County - Solar Access for Subdivision Development

The intent of Solar Access for Subdivision Development (Part 9) is to implement and enforce the requirements of the California Solar Rights Act, that the design of all subdivisions for which a tentative map is required shall utilize natural heating and cooling opportunities to the maximum extent feasible and that the dedication of solar easements may be required as a condition of tentative map approval for new parcels in order to protect solar access. It is intended that the provisions of this part shall prevail over any other provisions of this Ordinance Code which may conflict with any of these

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City of Fresno - Installation of Solar Energy Systems in Construction of New City-owned Buildings

City of Fresno requires that the design of any new city-owned building containing at least 7500 square feet shall include an alternative design for installation of a solar energy system.

The report to Council for each award of a contract for a new city-owned building shall include information related to compliance with this section every other year.

Each of the following is exempt from application of this section:

· A building for which the design is 30% or more complete on or before the effective date of this section.

· A building for which another renewable energy source(s) is available

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Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment

H.B. 8354, enacted on July 2016, included a provision exempting qualifying renewable energy systems and associated equipment used in residential and manufacturing sector from property taxes throughout the state. Eligible renewable energy resources include direct solar radiation, wind, ocean, geothermal, small hydro, eligible biomass fuels, and fuel cells using renewable resources. 

Renewable energy equipment used in commercial facilities is not included in the exemption. However, legislation amended R.I. Gen Law §44-3-9 adding renewable energy equipment to qualify for tax stabilization, which may apply to commercial facilities. This authorizes local governments in Rhode Island to provide tax stabilization agreements for renewable

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Local Option - Property-Assessed Clean Energy Financing

In 2010, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which has authority over mortgage underwriters Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, directed these enterprises against purchasing mortgages of homes with a PACE lien due to its senior status above a mortgage. Most residential PACE activities subsided following this directive; however, some residential PACE programs are now operating with loan loss reserve funds, appropriate disclosures, or other protections meant to address FHFA's concerns. Commercial PACE programs were not directly affected by FHFA’s actions, as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac do not underwrite commercial mortgages. Visit PACENation.org for more information about PACE financing and

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VirginiaSAVES Green Community Loan Program

The VirginiaSAVES Green Community Program provides low cost financing to private commercial and industrial, non-profits, and local governments to fund a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the State. The program works with third-party funding sources to provide financing for projects. The program is administered by CleanSource Capital, LLC under the guidance of Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME).

Interested applicants must submit a summary worksheet that describes the project, including measures being funded, vendors involved, and energy assessment. After meeting the eligibility requirements, the borrower can submit a formal application along with an application fee

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City of El Paso - Green Building Policy for Municipal Buildings

In June 2008, the City Council of the City of El Paso enacted the Sustainable Design Standards for City Buildings policy (see Ordinance 016911, updated in July 2012 in this solution). All new City buildings over 5,000 square feet in size are required to be designed, contracted, and built to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification level and strive for a higher level of certification (gold or platinum) when possible. Future major renovations and non-occupied City buildings will also be designed, contracted, and built to include as many principles of

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