Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC

Smart Grid Demonstration Project

Funding Opportunity Number: DE-FOA-0000036

Area of Interest 1. Project01

Table of Contents

Abstract 4

Introduction and Background 5

Project Narrative 6

Regional Demonstration 6-17

Relevance and Impacts 19

Roles of Participants 20

Project Performance Sites 20

SOPO 21-22

Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC-Smart Grid Demonstration Project Abstract

______________________________________________________________

Daniel Hettenbach, President and CEO

Michael Weissenfluh, CFO

Briana Kimball, Financial Lead

Objectives

· Emplace Smart Grid Technologies and PV systems in Tillamook County under the Lotus Solar No- Cost smart PV system deployment to needs-based applicants. In five years a projected 2356 smart PV systems provided to 2,356 year round residential customers of Tillamook People’s Utility District

· Create 200 sustainable jobs in Tillamook County

· Develop a 5MW solar farm in cooperation with Port of Tillamook Bay and Tillamook People’s Utility District as part of the No-Cost deployment for community energy storage and usage

· Demonstrate a repeatable scalable business model that can be enacted in any community

· Reduce carbon emissions

· Establish and operate a U.S. based green manufacturing company that produces a renewable energy source, 220W PV module solar panels

· Partner with local schools to provide paid workforce internships at Lotus Solar, partner with local colleges to create on the job training credit program for smart grid technologies and renewable energy

· Stimulate local economies

· Create a reliable energy supply, lower energy costs, and establish market energy independence

Lotus Solar believes that building a manufacturing facility with a Spire Solar Spi-Line 25MW Photovoltaic Module Line will allow them, through profitability and growth of the current renewable energy market for U.S. made PV modules, to emplace smart grid technologies and photovoltaic systems in Tillamook County at No-Cost to needs-based applicants (elderly, low income, disabled) and public service sector (fire, emergency medical services, hospitals, care centers, schools). The Lotus Solar manufacturing facility will be able to provide jobs, establish US manufacturing of renewable energy, promote education through workforce training and demonstrate a repeatable scalable for-profit business model that can be enacted in any community across the nation.

Benefits/Outcomes

· installed grid connected smart solar systems producing renewable distributed energy

· lower energy costs for consumers

· Create sustainable jobs with competitive wages

· flex scheduling to consider family commitments and work share to meet the needs of a diverse community

· bringing manufacturing to Tillamook County

· Energy Independence for the nation

Program Area of Interest 1: Introduction and Background

Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC (Lotus Solar) was founded and established April of 2009 in Bay City, Oregon located in Tillamook County by Daniel Hettenbach, a local resident. As a non traditional student entering the Associate of Arts and Science Oregon transfer degree program at Tillamook Bay Community College Mr. Hettenbach identified a gap in the adequacy of student government as a self determining body under the provisions of the board. Equipped with natural leadership Mr. Hettenbach served in student government being elected first as the office manager and the following year elected president. After achieving many successes at the college level including the development of a budget process and participating in raising awareness for a bond measure that was passed to construct a new Tillamook Bay Community College Mr. Hettenbach developed a belief in service. Being an effective student advocate he recognized he possessed the skills to create change on a larger scale within his community and across the nation. This feeling was fueled by this message from President Obama’s Inaugural Address, “For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act-not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.” The formation of Lotus Solar occurred in response to the challenges facing his community and communities across the nation with the loss of jobs and wages as well as the cost of energy and environmental impact. Mr. Hettenbach’s own life experience has shaped him into a leader that believes Lotus Solar can positively answer the problems faced in his community and the nation.

In just five short months since the inception of Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC, Daniel Hettenbach registered the company, valuated and created a dynamic team, and developed a business plan that provides a solution with an informed concept that meets the challenges necessary to help our country thrive in the 21^st century. The U.S. DOE-NETL Smart Grid Demonstration FOA presented an opportunity for Lotus Solar to put forth its proposal for consideration to achieve smart renewable energy deployment through its local community and communities beyond its immediate region.

Tillamook County, known as the Land of Cheese, Trees, and Ocean Breeze, is located along the north Oregon coast between the Coastal Range Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. As of 2006 the population estimate was approximately 25,380 with a population projection of 26,589 by 2010 for an area that covers 1125 square miles including nine rivers, four bays, and 75 miles of coastline The population of Tillamook County is comprised of Caucasian and Native American with a growing Latino workforce. The economy is reliant on agriculture, timber, fishing, and tourism all of which have suffered a significant decline since the economic downturn in 2007. The first quarter of 2009 the state of Oregon recorded a fifth consecutive quarter for job loss that has been extremely aggressive in the previous two quarters. Tillamook County has a high rate of unemployment as of July 2009 it was 10.1% Oregon State as of July 2009 had an overall 11.9% unemployment rate (Department). A local timber manufacturing company laid off 85 employees, a lot in a small rural community, in the second quarter of this year adding to the growing unemployment rate and burden of many local families (Press).

Program Area of Interest 1: Project Narrative

Objectives

· Emplace Smart Grid Technologies and PV systems in Tillamook County at no cost to needs-based applicants, deployment of 2356 systems to year round customers of Tillamook People’s Utility District: No-Cost deployment

· Create 200 sustainable jobs in Tillamook County in five years

· Demonstrate a repeatable scalable business model that can be enacted in any community

· Reduce carbon emissions

· Create a U.S. based green manufacturing company that produces renewable energy

· Establish partnerships with local schools to provide paid workforce internships and educate on smart grid technologies and renewable energy

· Develop a 5MW solar farm on Port of Tillamook Bay land in cooperation with Tillamook People’s Utility district as part of the No-Cost deployment for community energy usage

· Stimulate local economies

· Create a reliable smart energy supply, lower energy costs, and achieve a measured energy independence for the Nation

Lotus Solar believes that building a manufacturing facility with a Spire Solar Spi-Line 25MW Photovoltaic Module Line will allow them to emplace smart grid technologies and photovoltaic systems in Tillamook County at No-Cost to need based applicants (elderly, low income, disabled)and public service sector (fire, emergency medical services, hospitals, care centers, schools). This will be at the core of the Lotus Solar SGDP. Lotus Solar is asserting that bringing needs-based sectors of communities that are least able to achieve smart, distributed, renewable energy production should be the first to be brought into the market as their burden is greatest. For this to happen a for-profit utilizing the record growth in the renewable energy market to generate the revenue to take on a community based deployment policy is a leadership example that Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC is willing to set (Buzz).

In addition the Lotus Solar manufacturing facility will be able to provide jobs, establish U.S. manufacturing of renewable energy, promote education through workforce training and demonstrate a repeatable scalable for-profit business model that can be enacted in any community across the nation which could be accomplished inside 48 months. The integration of 20% of Tillamook People’s Utility District (TPUD1) year round residential customers (2356 households) into the local utilities grid with smart PV systems will have their energy cost lowered in part or in whole by a photovoltaic (PV) system. The smart inverters and feed in meters installed with the PV systems will provide quantifiable data for Tillamook PUD to allow evaluation of energy needs, peak periods, mitigate financial impact of power outages, lower emissions of greenhouse gases, and lower transportation and distribution loss. Lotus Solar, in cooperation with the Port of Tillamook Bay , will develop a utility-interactive 5MW solar farm in Tillamook County to help Tillamook PUD combat energy short falls and meet Bonneville Power Authority’s projected 2011 regional targets for energy efficiency (Administration). This project also meets many of the areas of emphasis of the multi-year Solar Energy Technologies Program.

Program Area of Interest 1: Regional Demonstrations

Criterion A: Region

Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) is the entity that oversees Bonneville Power Administration(BPA), the regional entity for Tillamook County. WECC is a vast region of deserts, mountains, plains, and forests and there just as many diverse sources of energy. Coal, nuclear, wind, hydro, solar, solar concentration, biomass, geothermal, and wave energy are all power sources being harnessed to produce electricity for customers that inhabit the Western United States.

The growing diverse energy production market under the WECC will continue to complicate but beginning now can smarten up with internet connected devices. The ability of oversight agencies to view data in real time, from distributed local energy resources, will best happen on a local level allowing local utilities to coordinate the broader standards of regional and federal oversight bodies while allowing U.S. citizens in local communities to benefit from job creation, economic stimulus, and participation in building the future Smart Grid of America. This smart device infrastructure will be the beginnings of real time address of energy usage and consumption.

Tillamook PUD is a BPA customer receiving their current power supply from the Federal Columbia River Hydropower System (District) and currently working towards meeting the standards set for post-2011 energy conservation (Booth). There will be a historically based allotment that will impact energy needs. This standard requires Tillamook PUD to be proactive and develop a diverse renewable energy portfolio. In 2003, Hooley Digester Bio-Gas Methane Facility was established. In 2008, Tillamook PUD entered into a memorandum of agreement with Principle Power, Inc. to develop a 150MW floating offshore wind power plant (Parks).

Lotus Solar believes that the next renewable energy source that should be added to the portfolio of Tillamook County and the Tillamook PUD is solar power generated from PV modules. Mandatory emplacement of smart inverters and meters integrated with PV systems by the Lotus Solar SGDP is the foundation for a local Smart Grid to be established employing installation crews of electricians, contractors, structural engineers, and providing revenue to local governments from permit issuance, and increasing assessed value of homes. With this added generating source in place, Tillamook PUD will be able to capture, transmit, and analyze renewable energy data as well as being better able to meet future energy needs of its region. For this to happen a local PV module manufacturing business committed to demonstrating No-Cost deployment in addition to providing the local utility a cooperative partner in developing more smart PV installs.

The Pacific Northwest is a leader in developing renewable energy resources. WECC has submitted a proposal for The Western Interconnection Synchrophasor Project (WISP) which includes renewable energy and improved interconnection reliability (Council). Tillamook County is a rural community perfectly suited for the Lotus Solar Smart Grid Demonstration Project due to coastal conditions. The median temperature range of 42°F in January to 58°F in July (County) provides added benefit to PV systems. The year round cool temperatures allow the PV modules to function at a twenty three percent higher efficiency (Amaresco). The average annual insolation hours in Tillamook County is comparable to those nations that are leading the global market in PV investment such as Germany (C.E. Whitlock).

Average Insolation (10 year average) kWh/m²/day

Country City Latitude Longitude Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Avg

DE Hamburg 53° 33' N 9° 59' E 0.54 1.11 2.09 3.68 4.86 4.47 4.47 3.89 2.59 1.48 0.69 0.40 2.52

OR Portland 45° 32' N 122° 40' W 1.38 2.33 3.49 4.57 5.46 6.09 6.64 5.78 4.8 2.79 1.41 1.1 3.82

ES Madrid 40° 25' N 3° 41' W 1.93 2.75 4.09 4.83 5.85 6.52 7.11 6.30 4.91 3.07 1.97 1.59 4.62

(C.E. Whitlock).

Criterion B: Description of Demonstration Project

Lotus Solar Smart Grid Demonstration Project (LS-SGDP) will encompass the entire Tillamook People’s Utility District, a multiple county utility district serving part of the North Oregon Coast. Tillamook County is comprised of rural coastal communities that enjoy hours of unharnessed solar energy each day; a perfect fit for capturing that energy because of the aforementioned mild ambient temperatures.

Lotus Solar’s team is aware that demonstrating a repeatable scalable smart grid technology and renewable energy deployment strategy will not be easy or is a light burden to receive and bear. But the Lotus Solar team is not reinventing the wheel by any stretch. No-Cost deployment is the most particular innovation within the LS-SGDP and business model. Lotus Solar also feels assured that this will be a driver for attracting clientele. Any locality purchasing Lotus Solar smart PV systems will see the appropriate No-Cost share of systems deployed within the community. That will expedite penetration and access for communities to become energy independent while providing data for analysis by local, state, and federal government agencies.

Utilizing a for-profit model and committing one-sixth of our yearly production to the deployment of photovoltaic systems with Smart Inverters, Smart Meters, and battery storage to needs-based applicants in the utility district’s service area will allow the LS-SGDP to hire local contractors, electricians, engineers, surveyors, and have an economic multiplier effect in not only the Tillamook PUD’s region but other regions as Lotus Solar develops it business. The LS-SGDP inside of five years proposes to have installed 2,356 PV solar arrays with Smart Inverters and Smart Meters throughout Tillamook PUD’s service area. An additional community based No-Cost deployment goal is to bring on line a smart 5MW solar farm on Port of Tillamook Bay administered 30 acres that is “shovel ready”. The LS-SGDP will develop a cooperative agreement with Tillamook PUD that brings solar energy to its customers utilizing the feed-in tariff Tillamook PUD applies to the Hooley Digester also located in Port of Tillamook Bay Industrial Park.

Lotus Solar in applying for financial assistance through the funding opportunity announcement issued by the U.S. DOE and NETL (DE-FOA-0000036)being funded by the Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009 passed by the Congress and signed by President Obama to aid the U.S. in creating jobs, providing education, building the foundation for a sustainable energy future. The amount of $38,199,977 would enable Lotus Solar to enact and demonstrate its proposed innovative business model and deploy smart devices with PV systems proving feasibility for grid tied penetration of devices that help to measure and collect information produced from a renewable energy source. The improvement will be measured by smart PV systems on roofs across Tillamook County producing mega watts of solar energy daily, the lowered energy costs for the community, and sustained job creation.

In order to accomplish these objectives, Lotus Solar will use funding from the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory Recovery Act-Smart Grid Demonstrations Funding Opportunity Award to purchase a 6+ acre parcel from Neah-Kah-Nie School District 56, giving a much needed revenue boost back to the school district’s damaged budget in hopes to stave off any cuts of necessary services or personnel for the children that school district serves.

Once the land purchase has been made Lotus Solar will contract with local architects, contractors, wetland/soil specialists, site planners, engineers, Tillamook County, Bay City, and Tillamook PUD for site preparation to construct a manufacturing facility in Bay City, Oregon. At the beginning of construction local peoples and businesses will begin work right away putting money into the local, state, and national economy through jobs and earnings. The proposed Lotus Solar manufacturing plant site will be employing laborers, electricians, engineers, architects, surveyors, U.S. building material manufacturers, concrete finishers, landscapers, painters, and glass installers. The first eleven months of Year One of the LS-SGDP, there will be one hundred persons participating and earning wages building the local energy future, solar panel manufacturing facility.

At the scheduled close of site build there will be a green facility and business ready to employ a hundred persons more. The communities and the nation will witness Recovery Reinvestment Act 2009 money at work benefitting the people and building a future U.S. manufacturing. The Lotus Solar SGDP is committed to stalling job loss and turning around the economy by finding multiplier effects for its potential funding. This site build and the tooling to be installed will provide a mechanism to execute the Smart Grid Demonstrations FOA goals smartly and expeditiously in the following four years.

Paralleling that with the purchase of the Spire Corporation Spi-Line 25MW Photovoltaic Module Manufacturing Line from Spire Solar in Bedford, Massachusetts investing money in an American Made fully integrated tooling line that by station, with American workers, assembles every necessary component that must be in place to make a PV module. Spire Solar takes 6 months to deliver their line, train Lotus Solar personnel in Bedford, assist Lotus Solar in establishing ties with known vendors, provides opportunity for consortium materials purchasing to get fair prices to keep production costs affordable. Spire has Spi-Line’s up and producing around the world, as evidence of Spire’s successful thirty year record in the industry, benefitting local economies and impacting energy needs in communities everywhere. Using this tooling line and Spire’s industry experience, the Lotus Solar SGDP will have a primary component to achieve its proposal objectives.

Working with Spire Solar through the certification by the UL of the Lotus Solar manufactured 220W photovoltaic module and establishing that certification Lotus Solar will be able to bring its product to market and begin generating revenue streams. Following the inspections and approvals Lotus Solar’s manufacturing line will employ local workers in the production of 220W panels for sale in the solar panel market. The generated revenue will allow Lotus Solar to begin site assessment with engineers, contractors, and electricians to deploy the smart PV systems to needs-based applicants that have registered by application and been evaluated for acceptance. Low income homes with children, elderly, or disabled will be priority applicants.

Reaching goals of twenty percent of the United States energy usage by 2020 would be best attained by an all hands on deck approach.

Smart Grid technologies deployment is the primary goal of the FOA and Lotus Solar will not emplace a PV system without them. The smart inverters and meters will be purchased from Solectria, a proven leader in dc/ac inverters and data monitoring, also based in Massachusetts, which will make the collection and use of data easy and accessible via the Internet SolRenView software. This data will be modeled into understandable graphics explaining usage and generation to the end customer. Lotus Solar will operate a link to the SolRenView site in addition to gathering the same data for academic and governmental review.

The growth for energy demand continues to climb and taking advantage of every opportunity to turn sunlight, wind force, or decomposition into sustainable developed renewable energy will eventually lower energy costs through all market sectors: residential, commercial, and industrial. For the Smart Grid to develop it won’t only take a complete overhaul of the national transportation infrastructure it will take an exponential deployment of renewable energy resources. This can create the most opportunity for job creation, education, and community development utilizing a for-profit business model that invests one-sixth of total profit in deployment of its product on needs-based criteria in the community. This will bring the entire community to the table participating in renewable energy deployment.

The mandated installation of the Lotus Solar photovoltaic systems with Smart Inverters, Smart Meters, and battery storage will increase the ability to measure and account for new sources of distributed renewable energy, reliability of an energy independent home during power outages by providing on site storage in current gel battery technology of solar produced electricity.

Criterion C: SGRD Goals section 1304 (b) (2) (A-E)

(A) to demonstrate the potential benefits of concentrated investments in advanced grid technologies on a regional grid;

Tillamook PUD customers will be able to harness the additional power storage of battery back up systems that will provide hours of energy everyday cost free. The 20% of year round customers that have a smart PV system installed which will mitigate hazards and revenue loss of power outages. At the end of year 5 the LS-SGDP will have saved the aforementioned 2,356 year round residential customers an estimated $5,725,645 at no cost because those customers are accepted applicants of the Lotus Solar No-Cost deployment. The average Tillamook PUD customer uses approximately 1280kWh per month which makes the average monthly bill $83. The projected average smart PV No-Cost deployment system will be 40 Lotus Solar 220W PV modules which produce 8.8kW 3 hours a day all year long this is 26.4 kWh a day on average. At the end of the month the system will have produced an estimated 792 kWh of renewable quantified energy cutting the site energy usage by 61% on average. This gives the average customer a new electricity bill of $37. The smart inverter, meter, and battery storage are connected through the Internet allowing for secured access by Tillamook PUD and Lotus Solar customers, U.S. Department of Energy, and all other oversight bodies to have real time recorded data of energy savings, generation, history, trends, and usage. The accumulation of data designates an achieved benchmark of PV module generated energy penetration in Tillamook PUD’s region produced at site of use as a more efficient and directly addressing energy needs of the community. This data will have academic, economic, and policy research value.

(B) to facilitate the commercial transition from the current power transmission and distribution system technologies to advanced technologies;

The current baseline is the majority of U.S. homes do not generate energy only consume it. Therefore the installed smart PV systems of the Lotus Solar SGDP No-Cost deployment will demonstrate how to reverse that trend in sectors of our communities that are either: least able, most constrained, or deserving due to community service from participating in acquiring smart renewable energy. They will be able to join the Green Economy of the 21^st century in the United States of America.

The Lotus Solar SGDP will demonstrate leadership with its No-Cost deployment to challenge other for-profit entities to find ways to invest more in providing community access to Smart Grid technologies, Green Collar jobs, and renewable energy. The increasing share of solar energy helping to meet U.S. energy demands and the economic impact of solar industries will be increasing. With a projected doubling of the solar market in 2010 and the historical aggressive growth in the solar market over the last 5 years (D. Sethuraman); market expansion, legislative and policy directive to diversify, and develop renewable energy portfolios of utilities indicates it will be an active market for U.S. manufactured Lotus Solar PV modules and systems. These national trends to reduce green house gas emissions and to stave transference of American finances for energy to other Nations for non-sustainable fossil fuels needs, as stated, require an all hands on deck approach. To Lotus Solar this means dedicating and contributing profit to smart renewable energy deployment by participating in the energy market.

Lotus Solar believes for U.S. industry to regain a leadership role in the global solar marketplace first we must produce renewable energy goods and devices in many communities across the nation. Deploying them in part locally to build energy independence to free our own spent energy monies from being committed to non sustainable and environmentally affecting energy resources. Having our energy needs being met sustainably through digitally interfaced renewable energy we will be able to direct our nations freed finances through investment to seek out the undiscovered future that could hold new industries, innovations, and community benefit by these metrics. This would again establish the U.S. as a visionary leader willing to invest in benefits not only for our nation but the world as a whole by cleaning up our energy supplies and reducing dependence and cost. For this to happen we must make substantial gains on building manufacturing and deploying with earnest these Smart Renewable technologies in our communities.

The Lotus Solar SGDP facilitates this transition from the dated 20^th century energy system that produced electricity from a central location and transmitted said energy long distance to site of usage to the formation and outlay of the 21^st century Smart Grid which must be accompanied by renewable distributed energy production at site of usage or closer community based energy generation like solar farms, wind turbines, biomass digesters, wave energy, or solar concentration. Lotus Solar, setting an example, responsible for the community that it inhabits and employs will prove that the business model can be repeated in any community urban or rural benefitting the community and still providing quality jobs, products, and services of the 21^st century Green Economy.

In the five year time span the success of the Lotus Solar SGDP will be dependent on sales results. Lotus Solar profit from selling PV modules will fund a majority of the proposed No-Cost community deployment of smart PV systems. Portions of the funding will be used to purchase and deploy smart PV systems but profit revenue will be the driver for the deployment. Lotus Solar will also hope to partner with Native American Tribal Nations, also a prime target sector, for possible smart solar farm development. Utilities needing to diversify and generate energy will be a prime target sector that Lotus Solar pursues to sale large quantities of panels for solar farms. These solar farms will not be deployed without smart technologies. This will provide an even more dispersed penetration of solar energy and smart grid technologies in the U.S. energy market.

The substantial positive impact of the Lotus Solar SGDP and No-Cost deployment is balanced against selling a U.S. manufactured solar panel in times when smart renewable energy independence goals are attracting growing financial resources at a dynamic rate. This risk will be for the DOE-NETL to determine if even at baseline sales that the employment created, the No-Cost deployment still occurring at baseline levels, and building U.S. manufacturing in a rural economically depressed community possesses enough value while providing data for study to grant a funding opportunity award.

table showing baseline operation and no cost deployment and jobs

table also will demonstrate mid and full sales goals and nocost depl. and jobs

The Tillamook People’s Utility District has made the change to digital meters but they do not have grid feed-in smart capability; they provide a digital reading with a wireless device that does not allow for data to be transmitted and collected. The LS-SGRD Solectria Smart inverters will allow real time data transfer and remote monitoring of energy production and usage by kWh which can then be analyzed via the web.

(C) to facilitate the integration of advanced technologies in existing electric networks to improve system performance, power flow control, and reliability;

The Lotus Solar system with integrated deployed current gel battery technology for storage during especially peak hours of insolation, a complete hour that the panel receives enough sunlight to produce its rated wattage production of kilowatt hours occurs, when kWh are excess to the needs of the site the stored electricity in the gel battery storage matures to service emergency needs during outages, providing a gathered pool of energy for the site to harvest from without having to draw so heavily from the public utilities well. This will allow the customers to save money and the Tillamook PUD to focus bulk energy resources at sites with a higher and more pressing need.

The Lotus Solar Smart Grid Project will have in place an online link located at the Lotus Solar website for all customers with a Lotus Solar smart PV system as well as all local and government agencies to access and view up to the minute data transmissions at location or be viewed via a secured web portal on the Solectria’s SolrenView site.

Solectria Renewables SolrenView monitoring system will, “allows you to see detailed inverter data (DC and AC) using your web-browser. Go back in time and flip through day, weekly and monthly graphs up to 5 years in the past to view single events or long-term trends. The package includes email alarms with detailed descriptions of sudden system problems and a recommended course of action. This service is only available for the industry-leading Solectria PVI series inverters,” and, “SolrenView Substring Monitoring™ enables you to detect underperformance of your commercial PV array down to a single non-contributing string, that might otherwise have gone undetected for years. A must-have tool to back up your PPA deliverables. This option is only available for Solectria PVI 60kW/82kW/95kW series inverters” (Renewables). This record and collection of the kWh generation, demand, storage, and usage would give a real time performance evaluation of a smart functioning distributed regional grid in a rural community validating the process of emplacing the systems with production of electricity. The data collected would also allow governing entities to anticipate demands, identify trends, and transfer loads to at needs site during usage peak hours.

If an installed Lotus Solar system experiences interruption in power generation, or other system, issues Lotus Solar and all involved entities will be able to recognize the change through computer generated alerts from the installed smart devices through Ethernet to contact generating devices (smart phones) and the Lotus Solar server coordinating through a customer service operator interface to deploy technicians and contact customer, utility, public services. By being able bring system issued diagnostics and analysis to the immediate attention of Lotus Solar 24/7 operator staff so contact and site visitation of the Lotus Solar service technicians who investigate site for problem while alerting the local utility to any necessary involvement for safety and oversight to the situation. The interruption can be corrected quickly, increasing reliability through quantifiable awareness of smart PV system health actively reporting

(D) to demonstrate protocols and standards that allow for the measurement and validation of the energy savings and fossil fuel emission reductions associated with the installation and use of energy efficiency and demand response technologies and practices;

The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year. Solar energy leaves the smallest carbon footprint of all the renewable energy sources however only makes up 1%of the United States renewable energy supply (Solarbuzz). There is no pollution or waste associated with the sun’s energy because it does not require liquids or gases for transportation or combustion. In the United States, solar panels have remained fairly high in price which is the primary reason that the panels account for less than 1 percent of our nations’ renewable generation. Generating power from the sun using rooftop panels can cost four times as much as coal, the largest and cheapest source of electricity in this country (NYT-Kanter). The unfortunate thing about coal is when we are burning it for everyday use we are emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere causing a substantial amount of pollution and diminished air quality. As a nation we can reduce greenhouse gases by reducing the burning of fossil fuels like coal and gas and replace it with clean solar energy.

(this following paragraph needs a citation and table showing what 16MW of No-Cost deployed in Tillamook county over five years with total reduce carbon emissions)

The addition of solar energy will reduce the amount of carbon emitting fuel sources used for energy production there by reducing emissions. The Lotus Solar SGDP working closely with Tillamook PUD and BPA will apply developed protocols and standards of information access for oversight bodies to determine the amount energy produced from the LS-SGDP smart PV systems and the estimated reduction in carbon emissions and use of fossil fuels.

It does not have to be a foreign objective in the U.S. There are programs available to minimize consumer cost such as feed-in tariff programs and power purchase agreements. If the utility companies are willing to pay just a little bit more than the average customer can also enjoy a renewable energy future. Oregon already has a good tax credit and loan program for solar energy. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski also introduced a trio of bills in 2009 to the state legislature that would enable the average person to engage in green energy. HB 2121 which is the introduction of feed-in tariffs, a mechanism that has been in place in Germany since 1991. HB 2181 looks at the cost of the solar system and allows for local government finance for residential property owners (press). Oregon has the tools to shine bright in the 21^st century and Lotus Solar is asking for an opportunity.

The simplest validation for a smart PV system is during a regional power outage and the newfound ability to produce electricity at site. People in homes having energy being produced everyday at site being able to meet basic electrical needs like hot water or hot food, a light turned on in the night, a smart PV system reports through a glowing screen, “yes you have electricity,” providing security to wait out the storm safely and humanely.

(E) to investigate differences in each region and regulatory environment regarding best practices in implementing smart grid technologies.

Lotus Solar SGDP by partnering with Spire Corporation, an already established solar energy company with 25+ years experience in PV, will be able to emplace a fully integrated PV module line ready to produce panels. This partnership will allow Lotus Solar to bring our proposal and additional future Lotus Solar franchises to fruition in a timely manner and ensure early local market penetration. As part of the integrated PV module tooling line purchase Spire Corp. provides support for Lotus Solar through training of future employees and engineers, establishing a functioning production line, as well as certification of our 220W PV module.

Lotus Solar as part of its SGDP will select a community and site for its Year Four separate 25MW line and facility deployment. Lotus Solar will early on through the selection process establish a relationship with any local regional Utility entity to determine feasibility of construction and enactment of the same Lotus Solar policies in their region. This investigation and selection process will begin at the end of Year One of the project. The transference of the Lotus Solar model into a new community and finding success in accomplishing the same goals will be a benchmark for the repeatability of the model.

Criterion D: SGDP Application

Lotus Solar Smart Grid Demonstration Project is proposing a 25MW solar module manufacturing facility in Tillamook County, the installation of Solectria Smart Inverters and Meters, back up gel battery storage units. Information will be exchanged via available information exchange interfaces. The smart devices will respond to failure without impacting the stability of the system.

Interoperability

Lotus Solar will track all pertinent data and store it in our data center. Our data center is made up of many certified domain-specific databases which will include administration, accounting, manufacturing workflow, and sales.
Each Lotus Solar employee will have a dashboard that organizes their role-specific data into a cohesive view they can access at their desktop, on a laptop, or on their iPhone. Any agencies that we'll need to provide data to will have a dashboard configured for the collection of pertinent information.

Lotus Solar’s system will interoperate with all necessary systems. Lotus Solar will use any and all tools and expertise available, including, but not limited to, data formats, communication protocols, and physical adaptors.

Lotus solar will integrate with the smart grid using industry standard procedures involving interface identification, specification, testing, and lifecycle management. Existing interfaces will be leveraged. Legacy systems will be integrated into the project. Published standards and protocols will be integrated into the project in a timely fashion. We will use common data formats and communication protocols.

Lotus Solar’s secure web application is accessible from any modern browser, including the iPhone and other smart phones. The Lotus Solar security mechanisms will be similar to the ones used for online banking. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) in conjunction with 128-bit encrypted keys will provide a secure channel of communication between the end-user's computer or smart phone and our secured servers. Our servers will be secured physically at the factory, and will be digitally secured by hardening the operating system and web server from both local and remote attacks. Remote access will be controlled by a firewall such that the server only receives http connections through one port. No extraneous software will run on the server, further securing the number of available attack vectors.

Cyber Security

Lotus Solar servers will run Linux with apache web server. These open-source tools have a long history of reliability and security. Our security staff will configure the operating system and server software securely.
Lotus Solar will obtain personnel who will work with our vendors to determine best practices and industry standard protocols for cyber security.

Cyber security will be addressed in every phase of the engineering lifecycle of the project, including design and procurement, installation and commissioning, and the ability to provide ongoing maintenance and support. Cyber security solutions will be comprehensive and capable of being extended or upgraded in response to changes to the threat or technological environment. Cyber security risk assessment is a complex and emergent topic. Our staff will be trained in background information, and will stay informed as to new threats. All current standards and practices will be in place to ensure cyber security. Lotus Solar will select vendors and devices with high security focus preferentially. As emerging smart grid cyber security standards mature, Lotus Solar will adopt and implement them into the project scope.

Criterion E:

Information Security Policy

1. Information security policy document

Lotus will institute an information security policy, approved by the management, published and communicated as appropriate to all employees. It will state management’s commitment and set out the organizational approach to managing information security.

2. Review and Evaluation

The Security policy will have an individual, who is responsible for its maintenance and review according to a defined review process. The process will ensure that a review takes place in response to any changes affecting the basis of the original assessment, example: significant security incidents, new vulnerabilities or changes to organizational or technical structure.

3. Allocation of information security responsibilities

Lotus will establish clearly defined responsibilities for the protection of individual assets and for carrying out specific security processes.

4. Co-operation between organizations

Lotus will make appropriate contacts with law enforcement authorities, regulatory bodies, utility providers, information service providers and telecommunication operators maintained to ensure that appropriate action can be quickly taken and advice obtained, in the event of an incident.

5. Independent review of information security

Lotus will review security policies on regular basis. This is to provide assurance that organizational practices properly reflect the policy, and that it is feasible and effective.

6. Identification of risks from third party

Risks from third party access will be identified and appropriate security controls implemented. Types of accesses will be identified, classified and reasons for access justified. Security risks with third party contractors working onsite will be identified and appropriate controls implemented.

7. Security requirements in third party contracts

Lotus will establish a formal contract containing, or referring to, all the security requirements to ensure compliance with the organization’s security policies and standards.

8. Security requirements in outsourcing contracts

Lotus will ensure that security requirements addressed in the contract with the third party, when the organization has outsourced the management and control of all or some of its information systems, networks and/ or desktop environments. The contract will address how the legal requirements are to be met, how the security of the organization’s assets are maintained and tested, and the right of audit, physical security issues and how the availability of the services is to be maintained in the event of disaster.

Asset classification and control

1. Inventory of assets

Lotus will maintain an inventory or register of the important administrative, selling and manufacturing assets. The asset inventory will have an individual, who is responsible for its maintenance and review according to a defined review process.

2. Asset labeling and handling

Lotus will establish an appropriate set of procedures defined for asset labeling and handling in accordance with the classification scheme adopted by Lotus.

Personnel security

1. Including security in job responsibilities

Security roles and responsibilities as laid in Lotus’s information security policy will be documented where appropriate. It will include general responsibilities for implementing or maintaining security policy as well as specific responsibilities for protection of particular assets, or for extension of particular security processes or activities.

2. Confidentiality agreements

Lotus will have employees sign confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements as a part of their initial terms and conditions of the employment and annually thereafter. This agreement will cover the security of the information processing facility, organization assets and trade secrets.

3. Terms and conditions of employment

The terms and conditions of the employment agreement will cover the employee’s responsibility for information security. Where appropriate, these responsibilities might continue for a defined period after the end of the employment.

4. Information security education and training

All employees of the organization and third party users (where relevant) will receive appropriate Information Security training and regular updates in organizational policies and procedures.

5. Reporting security/threat incidents

Lotus will establish a formal reporting procedure, to report security/threat incidents through appropriate management channels as quickly as possible.

6. Reporting security weaknesses

Lotus will establish a formal reporting procedure or guideline to report security weakness in, or threats to, systems or services.

Physical and Environmental Security

1. Equipment location protection

Any items requiring special protection will be isolated to reduce the general level of protection required. Controls will be adopted to minimize risk from potential threats such as theft, fire, explosives, smoke, water, dust, vibration, chemical effects, electrical supply interfaces, electromagnetic radiation and flood.

2. Power Supplies

Equipment will be protected from power failures by using redundant power supplies such as multiple feeds, uninterruptible power supply (ups), backup generator etc.

3. Equipment Maintenance

Maintenance on equipment will be carried out only by authorized and properly trained personnel. Equipment will be covered by insurance, and all insurance requirements will be satisfied.

4. Securing of equipment offsite

Any equipment usage outside of Lotus’s premises for information processing has to be authorized by management. The security provided for equipment while outside the premises equal to or more than the security provided inside the premises.

5. Secure disposal or re-use of equipment

Lotus will ensure storage devices containing sensitive information will either be physically destroyed or securely over written?

6. Removal of property

Equipment, information or software cannot be taken offsite without appropriate authorization. Spot checks or regular audits will be conducted to detect unauthorized removal of property. Employees will be made aware of these types of spot checks or regular audits.

Communications and Operations Management

1. Documented Operating procedures

Lotus’s Security Policy with identify any operating procedures such as back-up, equipment maintenance etc.

2. Incident management procedures

Lotus will have an Incident Management procedure to handle security/threat incidents. The procedure will address the incident management responsibilities, orderly and quick response to security/threat incidents. The procedure will address different types of incidents ranging from denial of service to breach of confidentiality etc., and ways to handle them. Audit trails and logs relating to the incidents will be maintained and proactive action taken in a way that the incident(s) don’t reoccur.

3. External facilities management

If information processing facilities are managed by an external company or

contractor (third party), Lotus will ensure the risks associated with such management are identified in advance, discussed with the third party and appropriate controls incorporated into the contract.

Media handling and Security

1. Management of removable computer media

Lotus will establish procedures for management of removable computer media such as tapes,

disks, cassettes, memory cards and reports.

2. Information and software exchange agreement

If Lotus enters into any formal or informal agreement with another company for exchange of information and software, the agreement will address the security issues based on the sensitivity of the business information involved.

3. Other forms of information exchange

Lotus will establish policies, procedures or controls to protect the exchange of information through the use of voice, facsimile and video communication facilities.

4. Access Control Policy

Business requirements for access control will be defined and documented. The access control policy will address the rules and rights for each user or a group of users. The users and service providers will be given a clear statement of the business requirement to be met by access controls.

5. Mobile computing

Lotus will establish a formal policy that takes into account the risks of working with computing facilities such as notebooks, palm-pilots etc., especially in unprotected environments. Training will be arranged for staff that use mobile computing facilities to raise their awareness on the additional risks resulting from this way of working and controls that need to be implemented to mitigate the risks.

6. Telecommuting

Lotus will establish policies, procedures and/ or standards to control telecommuting activities that are consistent with Lotus’s security policy. Suitable protection of any telecommuting site will be in place to protect against threats such as theft of equipment, unauthorized disclosure of information etc.

Business Continuity Management

1. Business continuity management process

Lotus will establish a managed process for developing and maintaining business continuity throughout the organization. This process will include an organization-wide business continuity plan, regular testing and updating of the plan, formulating and documenting a business continuity strategy etc.

2. Business continuity and impact analysis

Lotus will identify events that could cause interruptions to business processes (equipment failure, flood and fire). A risk assessment will be conducted to determine the impact of such interruptions. A strategy plan will be developed based on the risk assessment to determine an overall approach to business continuity.

3. Writing and implementing continuity plan

Lotus will develop plans to restore business operations within the required time frame following an interruption or failure to business process. The plan will be regularly tested and updated.

4. Business continuity planning framework

Lotus will establish a single framework for the business continuity plan. This framework will be maintained to ensure that all plans are consistent and identify priorities for testing and maintenance. IT will identify conditions for activation and individuals responsible for executing each component of the plan.

5. Testing, maintaining and re-assessing business continuity plan

The business continuity plans will be tested regularly to ensure that they are up to date and effective. The business continuity plan will be maintained by regular reviews and updates to ensure their continuing effectiveness. The procedures included will ensure that business continuity matters are appropriately addressed.

Criterion F:

Lotus Solar will provide regular opportunity to inform the local community understanding by meeting with local governing bodies, publishing information on jobs created, energy costs lowered, green energy generated, and No-Cost deployment attained in local newspaper and on the Lotus Solar website. Throughout this process the Lotus Solar team has been performing outreach in the rural area discussing the needs of this community; talks which will continue through Lotus Solar’s lifespan. Daniel Hettenbach, President of Lotus Solar has presented the Lotus Solar SGDP in concept to Neah-Khan-Nie School Board, Tillamook People’s Utility District manager and department heads, Port of Tillamook Bay Board of Commissioners. Lotus Solar has received letters of support from Tillamook PUD, POTB, and State Senator Betsy Johnson. The Neah-Kah-Nie Board , expressed support for the Lotus Solar objectives of developing education opportunities for area school children and installation of smart PV systems for school structures.

Lotus Solar’s inception occurred in response to the decline and disappearance of jobs in the timber, fishing, agricultural, construction, and tourism industries in a rural community with significant poverty not unlike so many communities across the nation. At the onset Lotus Solar was structured with an ethical, progressive business model that would choose to find specific impact areas for potential funding and profits. Lotus Solar is guided by the idea of multiple and aggregate positive demonstrations and outcomes of its SGDP and business model in communities where it finds itself. The Lotus Solar business model would be lowering energy costs, greening the energy source, involving as many persons as possible. Dollars doing more than collecting interest but invested in real smart PV systems covering rooftops and populating fallow lands making the sun that falls on them into electricity to power our advancement on the challenges we all face.

The first step proposed step of the Lotus Solar SGDP is to get much needed funds into the budget of Neah-Kah-Nie School District 56. Another school district which has been affected by budget cutbacks and belt tightening in funding increasing the burden of service. The Lotus Solar SGDP with purchase of the 6+ acre parcel in a Free-Enterprise Zone located in Bay City, Oregon would with manufacturing facility construction would increase property tax base for the city.

The Lotus Solar SGDP goes a step further in ensuring the success of this rural community by committing our time to training students in the surrounding three school districts, by creating workforce training internship programs. These programs with benefit four students from each school selected to participate and receive paid training in one of four areas: computer systems, production, installation, and administration. Our goal is to educate and create a green workforce.

Lotus Solar will also look to create a consortium with Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC) in order to grant college credit for on the job training in areas of interest in the solar manufacturing industry. Oregon is leading the way in solar energy research and companies like BEST (Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center) have partnered with University of Oregon and Oregon State University to advance research and awareness of the industry. Lotus Solar believes in that business model and wants to extend training and research in Tillamook County. TBCC is moving forward on an electrician’s program and on an alternative energy technicians program that will produce qualified individuals Lotus Solar is committing to putting to work.

Tillamook PUD moving forward on Smart Grid deployment locally and renewable energy generation needs a local partner to work in concert on solar panel and smart meter deployment. POTB having abundant land to establish solar farms upon would allow the POTB and Lotus Solar in concert with Tillamook PUD to demonstrate renewable energy production in Tillamook County with a 5MW smart solar farm. Neak-Kah-Nie School District seeing their property in Bay City being developed into a modern, manufacturing facility allows for a long term goal of seeing a three contribution of property to develop into a remedy for budget short falls and provide for their students access to part time employment throughout Lotus Solar commitment to flex scheduling so they can learn hands on about renewable energy technologies. All of these community partnerships and the developing relationships strengthen the community’s ability to engage and address the challenges of energy, economy, and education with Lotus Solar providing in part or in whole a solution with establishing a 25MW solar panel plant in Bay City.

Lotus Solar values partnerships with local, state, tribal, federal, and international communities to employ and aid in education of Green Collar energy technicians of the 21^st Century and to getting photovoltaic module systems affordable and available. Many of these partnerships and relationships to be developed in the local community are fundamental. Working with; Port of Tillamook Bay, Tillamook People’s Utility District, Neah-Kah-Nie School District, and local Tillamook Bay Community College are relationships that Lotus Solar values and we will invest in their contributions by directing federal dollar matching to invest in shovel ready projects, education, training, and job creation from day one in Tillamook County.

Lotus Solar will deploy public education on a quarterly basis with a forum that will be open to the public where they can ask questions about solar modules and renewable energy. Our website will be open to the public and available via the internet allowing people to contact Lotus Solar directly. The website will provide information about achieved milestones of No-Cost deployment, cost savings, environmental impact, and the smart PV technology used. We will also be soliciting applications from need- based sector in Tillamook County in order to meet our commitment to deploy PV systems, smart inverters and meters, with a back up battery source to a part of the community that would not otherwise get to participate in smart technology. This is a significant and responsible innovation that allows the entire community to participate in a smart renewable energy future. At the end of five years Lotus Solar will have received and accepted applications from 2356 year round Tillamook PUD customers and outfitted them with a Lotus Solar 220MW 40 panel system.

Lotus Solar will be working closely with Tillamook County in developing codes specific to PV systems to ensure that all of the requirements regarding building permits and inspection are in compliance. Lotus Solar has been in direct contact with Tillamook PUD to ensure an understanding of the guidelines set forth for small power production and make sure that all design requirement and installations adhere to applicable local, state, and national safety codes.

The Lotus Solar SGDP is committed to working in cooperation with utilities, city, county, state government to educate and familiarize regarding smart PV systems to help reduce technical and regulatory barriers with regular contact due to expanded deployment, permit, certification, evaluation, and process by being an active participant in community meetings and governance engagement.

Criterion G:

Lotus Solar’s approach to collecting and present data is going to be achieved with Solectria’s SolrenView Revenue Grade Meter, within that meter is a monitoring device that will accurately transmit data to a website for easy access. The server will capture kWh usage and generated so the customer and any other local, state, or government agency can valuate the information.

The Lotus Solar system with integrated deployed current gel battery technology for storage during especially peak hours of insolation, a complete hour that the panel receives enough sunlight to produce its rated wattage production of kilo watt hours occurs, when kWh are excess to the needs of the site the stored electricity in the gel battery storage matures to service emergency needs during outages, providing a gathered pool of energy for the site to harvest from without having to draw so heavily from the public utilities well. This will allow the customers to save money and the Tillamook PUD to focus bulk energy resources at sites with a higher and more pressing need.

The best integration into the grid of both distributed and centralized smart PV energy production is for more actual systems to be constructed and emplaced throughout urban and rural communities. Lotus Solar is committed to aiding our nation and communities in this. The grid integration of PV power will take an investment by private and public entities. Profits invested in this deployment by the Lotus Solar business model will be a responsible commitment to build an energy future of grid tied systems that produce and provide site generated renewable energy, the excess of which can be returned through the grid to meet energy needs of far flung communities and businesses. Progress and service is its own profit. For the grid to be integrated the smart PV systems must be introduced on wider more substantial scope. The Lotus Solar SGDP helps to accomplish this with its No-Cost deployment policy. Smart PV systems tied into the grid at no cost to educational institutions, community service entities, low income, disabled, elderly being provided by Lotus Solar are systems that ease burdens and aid in providing the security of electricity needed even in the 21^st century. Being able to turn on a light when it’s dark or being able hire an extra teacher, provide heat to the elderly, and not be panicked when the power bill arrives.

Program Area of Interest 1: Relevance and Impacts

Lotus Solar Smart Grid Demonstration Project is an innovative scalable repeatable business model that emplaces smart grid technology in communities using known technologies and practices to achieve lower energy cost for consumers, job creation, positive environmental impact, building U.S. manufacturing capability while laying the digital renewable foundation for our nation and usher in a future of energy independence.

Program Area of Interest 1: Roles of Participants

Spire Corporation has provided Lotus Solar with a quote for the Spi-Line 25MW Module Manufacturing Line, complete turnkey solar module manufacturing line capable of producing up to 25 MegaWatts of solar module per year. As a customer and partner they will also share their process knowledge, provide training, job descriptions, and qualifications to assist Lotus Solar in achieving maximum efficiency and quick market penetration.

Tillamook People’s Utility District has provided Lotus Solar with the application information necessary for customer-owned generation so we have the requirements understood prior to engaging in this business model. They will be Lotus Solar’s oversight in this project to track compliance with BPA and other government agencies.

State Senator Betsy Johnson has offered her support for our proposal.

Port of Tillamook Bay administers 30 acres of full service industrial park land zoned and shovel ready to house the 5MW solar farm. They offer an attractive 3 year property tax exemptions for new non retail businesses whose investment is $25,000 or more and create full time jobs, both areas would be met with the deployment of the solar farm.

Yost Grube Hall Architecture has been contacted regard green architecture design of the office building, fabrication shop, and manufacturing plant.

Neah-Kah-Nie School District 56 has a properly zoned 6 acre lot for sale in a free enterprise zone in Bay City, Oregon and will be a Lotus Solar partner in the workforce education programs. Tillamook School District and Nestucca Valley School District will be the other two Tillamook County Schools involved in the workforce education program.

Otak has provided Lotus Solar with a bid that details a site survey to address easements, topography, and an excavation plan for the Neah-Kah-Nie School District land.

Stricker Engineering will bring their experience in solar arrays to produce engineering plans for PV racking systems on residential and commercial sites.

Tillamook Bay Community College has in place an Industrial Maintenance Technician Program and an Alternative Energy Technician Program, welding, and contractor programs, Lotus Solar is looking forward to partner with them for on the job training of the students in those programs.

Solectria will be our source of smart inverters and meters as well as the experience and expertise of data monitoring systems and installation.

Program Area of Interest 1: Project Performance Site

Neah-Kah-Nie School District has a 6 acre lot for sale that borders Tillamook Avenue and heads up Short Street. The lot numbers are 56-15 and B122. The physical address is 6385 Tillamook Ave, Bay City, Oregon 97107.

Port of Tillamook Bay I'm unclear as to which land you are referring to, actually. The 80-acre
parcel at the corner of Long Prairie and Brickyard is affectionately known
as the Obrist field.

The entire property is part of 2S 9W 5300

Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC Smart Grid Demonstration Project

Area of Interest 1: Regional Demonstration

A. Project Objectives

· Emplace Smart Grid Technologies and PV systems in Tillamook County at no cost to needs based applicants, deployment of 2356 systems to year round customers of Tillamook People’ Utility District

· Create 200 sustainable jobs in Tillamook County

· Demonstrate a repeatable scalable business model that can be enacted in any community

· Reduce carbon emissions

· Create a U.S. based green manufacturing company that produces renewable energy

· Establish partnerships with local schools to provide paid workforce internships and educate on smart grid technologies and renewable energy

· Develop a 5MW solar farm on Port of Tillamook Bay land

· Stimulate local economies

· Create a reliable energy supply, lower energy costs, and energy independence

B. Project Scope

Lotus Solar Smart Grid Demonstration Project (LS-SGDP) will encompass the entire Tillamook People’s Utility District, a multiple county utility districts on the North Oregon Coast. Tillamook County is comprised of rural coastal communities that enjoy hours of unharnessed solar energy each day; a perfect fit for capturing that energy because of the mild ambient temperatures. Lotus Solar’s proposed project is a demonstrative repeatable scalable smart grid technology and renewable energy deployment strategy that will expedite penetration and access for communities to become energy independent while providing data for analysis by local, state, and federal government agencies . Utilizing a for-profit model and committing one sixth of our yearly production to the deployment of photovoltaic systems with Smart Inverters, Smart Meters, and battery storage to needs based applicants in the utility districts service area. The LS- SGDP inside of five years proposes to get installed PV solar arrays with Smart Inverters and Smart Meters throughout Tillamook County in collaboration with Tillamook PUD to bring on line a proposed utility-interactive 5MW solar farm on Port of Tillamook Bay administered 30 acres that is “shovel ready”.

C. Tasks to be Performed

Phase I-Project Definition and NEPA Compliance

Project Management Plan

Ø Year one: administrative/business model policy, funding, land purchase, excavate location, build facility, install tooling line, get UL certification, servers and website developed, education development programs with local school districts, create database and website, identify needs based community, hire workforce, train workforce, establish benefits and flex work environment, begin production of 220w solar panels, sales, and solar farm site development, evaluate total renewable energy generation, job creation, economic impact report goal achievement towards FOA

Ø Year two: UL certification, no-cost deployment installation of needs-based community, solar farm start up, government contracts, utility contracts, start discussion with Native nations, development of clean efficient processes, second site expansion evaluation, evaluate total renewable energy generation, job creation, economic impact report goal achievement towards FOA

Ø Year three: government contracts, utility contracts, develop corporate partners production and sales, expansion determination process for second site community selection, evaluate total renewable energy generation, job creation, economic impact report goal achievement towards FOA

Ø Year four: government contracts, production and sales, site development for second 12MW manufacturing plant, Spire line purchase, evaluate No-cost LS-SGDP goal achievement and look at possible deployment to other needs-based communities, evaluate total renewable energy generation, job creation, economic impact report goal achievement towards FOA

Ø Year five: prepare end document for U.S. DOE-NETL for goal achievement and data acquisition, production and sales, develop corporate partners, completion of 5MW solar farm, completion of deployment and installation of needs based community, second 12MW manufacturing plan on line valuation of repeatable scalable business model and aggregate affect, begin process for third and fourth sites-expansion in other NERC regions, Meso-America specifically, yearly total renewable energy generated, job creation, economic impact report goal achievement towards FOA, deliver end document to U.S. DOE-NETL

Evaluate Project Performance

Lotus Solar SGDP is a proposed project over the course of five years. We will determine project performance based on sales of solar panels and reinvested profits in the form of No-Cost deployment. A major component of our business plan is No-Cost deployment of PV systems to 2356 year round Tillamook County customers that would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate. In order for us to evaluate the performance at the end of five years all 2356 customers will have a system, currently there are none.

Lotus Solar is also going to construct and operate in cooperation with Port of Tillamook Bay and Tillamook PUD a 5MW solar farm. There is currently no solar farm in the area. Currently Tillamook PUD has no major electricity generating projects in its current region other than a biomass plant, Hooley Digester. The solar farm is scheduled to grow by 1.25MW a year after establishment of PV module production. All 5MW of smart PV energy modules will be up and functional by year five.

Lotus Solar understands that reduced carbon emissions is a side effect of renewable solar energy. It is the environmentally preferred power but currently only makes up 1% of the United States renewable energy supply. Lotus Solar is looking to change the current trend and bring solar to the forefront.

Phase II-Operational Readiness Review

Lotus Solar will ensure that site construction is an approved design with the proper permits

Lotus Solar will ensure a safe and effective work environment

Lotus Solar will ensure that all personnel is properly trained and certified

Lotus Solar will ensure that all business follows a high level of standards and regulatory requirements

Phase III-Commissioning and Operations

Data Collection

Deployed Lotus Solar systems will have digital interface whether a on site monitor or through the internet. People will be able access information about energy their system produced, their own energy usage providing a path for a stronger consciousness regarding conservation and creation. This adds to the educational goals to increase environmental understanding through our communities by presenting an opportunity for engagement of information.

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initial blog of Daniel Hettenbach

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Lotus Solar Grant Proposal Text

Lotus Solar Manufacturing LLC-Smart Grid Demonstration Project Abstract

Bibliography