Innovations from Rooftop Solar Challenge Communities

Bio: Amy Heart is the City of Milwaukee’s Solar Program Manager, and leads Milwaukee Shines, the public-private collaborative developed in 2008 when Milwaukee was designated as one of 25 Solar America Cities by the U.S. Department of Energy. The program works to expand solar energy use throughout the community and provides resources to make going with solar easier in Milwaukee. Amy also works with City staff facilitating solar permitting changes, inspection training, and installations on City facilities. Before joining the City of Milwaukee, Amy spent five years with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Amy served on Stevens Point’s city council where she co-chaired the city’s development of its eco-municipality plan.

Education: Amy received a BA from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, as is a current student at Marquette University Law School.

Key Publications: - "The Building a Solar Market in Milwaukee." Article in American Solar Energy Society's Solar Today magazine(Nov 2011. http://j.mp/SolarTodayNov2011

Other Publications: - "Solar Powering Your Community: Milwaukee Shines." Podcast for ICMA on successes in Milwaukee's Solar America City program. (August 2011).

Past Assignments: - "Milwaukee’s Model for Solar Financing Solutions." Presentation for Applied Solutions, a non-profit that serves local governments(Sept 2012). http://www.appliedsolutions.org - "Solar Powering Your Community." Presentation for International County/City Managers Association (ICMA) international conference, Sept 2010. ICMA Webinar, Jan 2011. - "Milwaukee’s Solar Thermal Business Council." Presentation on this new City of Milwaukee solar supply chain initiative at national SOLAR THERMAL ’11 and ‘12 conference.

Bio: Beth Dawson is the Solar Energy Coordinator with the Mid-Amercia Regional Council. Her work on the Rooftop Solar Challenge is focused on reducing barriers to installing rooftop solar. In this position she managed the development and the continuing implementation of best management practices for permit process improvements and planning improvements along with the creation of financing mechanisms. Her interest and training in solar energy was solidified while studying architecture and holding a fellowship position in the Baker Laboratory at the University of Oregon. There she oversaw the administration of the lab and its equipment to both faculty and students.

Education: Bachelor Science and Business Administration (BSBA) - Washington University, St. Louis, MO Master Business Administration (MBA) - Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO Master Interior Architecture (MIArc) - University of Oregon, Eugene Master Architecture (MArch) - University of Oregon, Eugene

Other Publications: Contributor, Solar Ready KC Best Management Practices

Past Assignments: Panelist, SunShot Rooftop Solar Challenge - What's it all mean?, Midwest Energy Policy Conference, October 2012

Bio: Ann Dillemuth, AICP, joined the American Planning Association in August 2007 as a Research Associate with the Planning Advisory Service (PAS). She provides customized research assistance on a wide variety of planning and land-use topics to planners in PAS subscribing agencies. Ms. Dillemuth acts as Product Coordinator for the PAS Essential Info Packet series, co-edits PAS Memo, a bimonthly online publication for PAS subscribers, and assists with copyediting the PAS Report series. She has also served as project assistant for APA-sponsored research projects on topics such as hazard mitigation, complete streets, and wind energy. Ms. Dillemuth has an undergraduate degree in biology from Williams College and obtained her Master of Regional Planning degree with a specialization in environmental and land use planning in 2007 at Cornell University. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Education: Williams College, B.A., Biology, 1996 Cornell University, M.R.P., City and Regional Planning, 2007

Bio: Andrew Schwartz, AICP, RLA,LEED® AP is the Managing Principal of Environmental Planning and Design, LLC (EPD), a landscape architecture and community planning firm based in downtown Pittsburgh. EPD maintains both public and private sector practices. Consequently, AJ has expertise in the preparation of comprehensive plans, zoning and land development ordinances and impact studies as well as large-scale master plans and land development plans. His practical experience with the public sector includes assisting planning agencies and commissions to understand and to assess resource capacities, to explore different planning alternatives, to evaluate the trade-offs to the alternatives and to define viable planning solutions. Variations between project scale have given AJ a unique understanding of community objectives and development-related planning issues.

Education: Penn State University-1989 Bachelors in Landscape Architecture; University of Michigan-1994 Masters in Urban and Regional Planning

Past Assignments: -2013 National Working Waterfronts & Waterways; -2013 Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors; -2013 American Planning Association Conference; -2012 Shippensburg University Symposium on Designing Healthy Communities; -2012 ,2011 & 2010 PA American Planning Association; -2010 National Association of Recreation Resource Planners; -2007 Pennsylvania Land Conservation Conference; -2006 ESRI International GIS User Conference; -2006 Pennsylvania Greenway Conference; -2006 Western Pennsylvania Trails Symposium; -2003 and 2005 PA GIS Conferences