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Smoothing out bumps on the road to solar

NAPA CONSULTANT WORKS TO OVERCOME REGULATIONS; A SOLAR SYSTEM THAT FLOATS

CALISTOGA – Gopal Shanker thinks the time is coming soon when a vice president of sustainable resources will be on every corporate staff. Until then he’s filling the gap with Récolte Energy, Napa’s first of a new breed of energy-efficiency consultants.

“Figuring out how to go green and where to budget money for a project in itself is further complicated by shifting state and county regulations and government incentives,” said Mr. Shanker.

For most companies considering alternative energy sources, the research is a one-time project, which is why many turn to consultants like Récolte Energy to expedite and bring momentum to the process. Chapellet Vineyards, Chateau Montelena, Far Niente, Opus One and Trinchero Family Estates are among Récolte’s clients in Napa and Sonoma counties.

“As the process starts I bring in an energy audit and then try to match energy sources with energy use,” said Mr. Shanker. “If the business uses a lot of water, it makes sense to invest in thermal technology, for example.”

His company puts out requests for proposals to energy providers and then manages the vendor or vendors his client selects. “We provide oversight and then post product evaluation. We also explore various finance models and make sure rebates and tax incentives are realized,” he said.

Each project brings its own challenges. Far Niente winery in the Napa Valley wanted a solar installation, but the most suitable spot for it was already occupied by a water storage pond. The obvious solution, erecting the racks and panels over the pool, proved problematic.

County environmental agencies refused to approve the project without being assured the health of the pond wouldn’t suffer. “We completed a study showing that water condition would actually improve because shade would retard algae growth,” said Mr. Shanker.

Of three short-listed vendors, two dropped out because of engineering challenges. SPG Solar of Novato jumped in with a model designed to float in case of flood.

More hurdles were posed by PG&E metering regulations, which allow a system to be sized no larger than the energy use recorded by a single meter.

Far Niente had to run a cable 16,000 feet to the winery’s meter. Another meter was close by but couldn’t be used. “We took that problem to Sacramento. Senate Bill 1512 will allow PG&E customers to aggregate use among multiple meters,” said Mr. Shanker.

Another similar state senate bill initiated and supported by Récolte will allow a solar system to be sized according to use by multiple tenants in one building without renegotiating leases. “We’re chipping away at the regulations that impede solar installations, one rule at a time. For the most part, PG&E is on our side. They realize it’s time to open the grid,” he said.

For a client who wanted to put a solar installation in a PG&E right of way, Récolte went all the way to the California Public Utilities Commission. “It took a year and a half, but the PUC gave in,” he said. According to Henry Gundling, vice president of the Gasser Foundation in Napa, Récolte is adept at finding solutions that elude its customers.

“We wanted our building to be more energy efficient, but nonprofits don’t have the resources that wineries and other businesses do,” said Mr. Gundling. Récolte worked out a financial model that can be used by any nonprofit that owns its building, he said.

“Gopal brought the National Development Council to the table. They already have a model to find investors for low-income housing. Now they’re applying that model to solar and other energy-saving installations,” he said.

The Gasser Foundation will be the first regional nonprofit with solar, but it won’t be the last. “When I put out RFPs for the Gasser installation, I requested that the solar providers include a financing model for nonprofits along with their bid,” said Mr. Shanker. Two Northern California solar companies complied.

“Borrego Solar and Solar City will be pursuing other nonprofits now that they see it can work. And SPG Solar will be installing more floating solar systems.

“Moving the solar industry ahead needs to be done on a lot of different fronts, and it takes time. But if people in California are determined to do it, it will happen,” said Mr. Shanker.

For more information, visit www

.recolteenergy.com.