Week of January 2, 2012

The stakeholders have been identified in the Department of Energy SunShot Grant, recently awarded to Broward County and its Participating Partners (the Cities of Coconut Creek, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Miramar, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, Sunrise, Tamarac; the Towns of Davie, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea; and FPL).  The purpose of the grant is to promote the installation of rooftop photovoltaic systems in residential and low commercial structures. 

This is the first of what is expected to be a routine weekly status update on progress implementing the SunShot grant.  (Note, future status update emails should be considerably shorter than this one.)  Here is the latest:

1. The grant was awarded to Broward County and its participating partners on 12/1/11.  Shortly thereafter, DOE staff requested an additional 15 documents related to financial issues and specific questions on Broward’s grant.  This information was all required by 12/15/11 and was submitted on that date.

2. A second DOE information request was received on 12/21/11.  In this request, DOE was seeking more specific information from each of the Participating Partners.  An information form was prepared and sent to all Participating Partners (see attached email).  Broward County staff are working to personally contact those partners to address any questions regarding the additional information request.  We are hoping responses from each participating partner can be received by 1/6/12.

3. Broward County has not yet executed a contract with DOE.  Very tentatively, Broward is hoping to have an executed contract by early February 2012.

4. A key element of the grant is the SunShot Application, a web-based application that will permit applicants to identify the rooftop, photovoltaic system they wish to install, and then immediately receive a building permit.  To complete this application by the target date of 6/30/12, substantial work will be required in a short period of time.   Accordingly, the following has already taken place, or will take place shortly:
a. On 10/17/11, a meeting of participating partner building officials was held to receive feedback on the SunShot Application concept.
b. Preliminary work on developing the application has already begun.
c. A draft Request for Information (RFI) has been completed, requesting information from mount manufactures, which will be used to help build the SunShot Application solution.  This RFI will be sent out today to all building officials seeking comment before the RFI is published.  We hope to have the final RFI published late next week or early the following week.
d. A 1/10/12 meeting of participating partner building officials is scheduled to reach consensus on a fee structure for the SunShot Application (see attached email).
e. A formal, stakeholder kick-off meeting is planned, to be scheduled as soon as a draft contract is received from DOE (tentatively, late January 2012).  At this meeting, a complete update on all aspects of the grant will be provided.

5. The following will be or has been implemented to promote effective communication among all stakeholders:
a. A weekly status update email will be sent to all stakeholders, of which this is the first.
b. A stakeholder website is planned to be made active the week of January 24, 2012.
c. A stakeholder ombudsperson has been identified (Mr. Dennis Pustizzi, 954-765-4400, x9367).  If any stakeholder has any concerns, needs specific information, or has any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Pustizzi.  If your prefer email, send all inquiries to sunshot@broward.org.

6. A proposed organizational structure for the grant implementation, in accordance with the grant application, has been completed and is attached. 

A FINAL IMPORTANT NOTE
If you are interested in serving on one of the SunShot Grant committees, please contact the Team Leader of that committee.  If interested, you are strongly encouraged to participate to help effect one of the key goals of the grant – inter-jurisdictional coordination.

Thank you.

Jeffery Halsey, Director
Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation and Air Quality Division

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