PUBLICATIONS

Since Northwest SEED was founded in 2001, the organization has been known for its ability to research and compile the best information needed for development of clean energy projects into easily accessible guides and publications.

The Solarize Guidebook: A community guide to collective purchasing of residential PV systems
The Solarize Guidebook, authored by Northwest SEED, captures the essence of the first neighborhood campaigns in Portland and reviews numerous variations that have emulated the Solarize model, from Pendleton to Salem to San Jose. The guide outlines the steps for launching a successful campaign, leveraging local grassroots groups and institutional technical support to produce market transforming results. The Solarize Guidebook was prepared for and funded by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, under the Solar America Communities program. The Solarize Guidebook is available for free download at here.

A Guide to Community Solar: Utility, Private and Non-profit Project Development
This guide is designed as a resource for those who want to develop community solar projects, from community organizers or solar energy advocates to government officials or utility managers. By exploring the range of incentives and policies while providing examples of operational community solar projects, this guide will help communities to plan and implement successful local energy projects. A Guide to Community Solar: Utility, Private and Non-profit Project Development was developed for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory by Northwest SEED, Keyes and Fox, Stoel Rives, and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. This guide builds on the research and writing from the Northwest Community Solar Guide, published by Northwest SEED and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Free Download Available Here

Financing Community-Scale Clean Energy Projects: Lessons from Project Developers in the Northwest
Northwest SEED and Cake Ventures commissioned a study to investigate the challenges developers face in getting clean energy projects financed. Based on in-depth interviews with project developers and financing experts in the Northwest, this report provides a better understanding of the unique structures, costs and processes for financing community-scale projects, identifies key challenges and weaknesses in financing, and highlights how developers have creatively financed community-scale projects. Download Available Now!

 Northwest Community Solar Guide
Developed in partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, The Northwest Community Solar Guide offers an in-depth look into the various forms of community solar projects. It explores the Community Solar movement and concepts; the financial and political restraints and opportunities; and a practical look at organizing and establishing a business model. Guidebook Download (Full)

ENERGY PLANNING: A Guide for Northwest Indian Tribes
This guidebook, created by Northwest SEED with funding from the Bullitt Foundation, is a new tool to help Native American Tribes develop a plan to achieve energy independence. The guide contains information and resources to help select and implement projects to conserve energy, generate clean, renewable energy, construct efficient and environmentally friendly buildings and other energy related community or business projects --- all tailored to the geography of the Northwest and the people of its Tribes.

Section Downloads
Introduction
Section 2: Creating an Energy Plan
Section 3: Energy Conservation and Efficiency
Section 4: Renewable Energy
Section 5: New Construction/Green Building
Section 6: Transportation
Section 7: Financial Resources
Section 8: General Resources
Glossary and Appendices

The Next Step for Biomass Energy Development in Clallam County
This guidebook, created by Northwest SEED, the Institute for Washington's Future, and the Northwest Cooperative Development Center, with funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology, is a new tool to help communities on the Olympic Peninsula assess the potential for local biomass energy development. The guide contains information and resources to help select and implement projects, and discusses the complexities involved in making a biomass project work.Guidebook Download (Full)

COMMUNITY WIND: An Oregon Guidebook
This guidebook, created by Northwest SEED for the Energy Trust of Oregon, provides background information on community wind development and lays out the components of a project, including assessing a wind resource, siting, permitting, ownership models, interconnection, financing, and sources of financial assistance. Hard copies of the Guidebook are available, free of charge, from the Energy Trust. Guidebook Download (Full)

Section Downloads
Cover and Table of Contents
Section 1: Purpose
Section 2: Project Design and Management
Section 3: Resource Assessment
Section 4: Site Control
Section 5: Permitting
Section 6: Interconnection
Section 7: Financing and Development
Section 8: Resources
Appendices
References
OR Map Back Cover

Permitting Small Wind Turbines: A Handbook
Northwest SEED worked with the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the California Energy Commission (CEC) to produce and release the most comprehensive guide to date for small wind turbine owners and local officials seeking to understand and improve permitting regulations affecting small wind energy systems.

Prospective turbine owners and planning officials alike will find the handbook, "Permitting Small Wind Turbines: Learning from the California Experience," useful reading. It is the first publication to explain in detail how California's groundbreaking state law (Assembly Bill 1207), establishing permitting standards for small wind energy systems, applies at local levels. The guide also directs turbine owners to special state incentives that reduce the costs of small-scale renewable energy installations.

RESOURCE EVALUATION

Renewable Energy Atlas of the West
The Atlas is an 80-page, full-color presentation of the renewable energy resources in the West, including newly-released high-resolution wind maps of the Pacific Northwest. The Atlas profiles wind, solar, geothermal and biomass power.

Sponsored by the Hewlett Foundation and The Energy Foundation, the Atlas was created by the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED), Green Info Network and Integral GIS. www.energyatlas.org