PREPARED BY: AMANDA BOOTH DATE OF MEETING: 12/03/18
SUBJECT:
TITLE
ANNUAL SOLAR UPDATE - YEAR FOUR RESULTS OF THE MUNICIPAL SOLAR PROJECT (PW 611)
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
For Informational Purposes Only
Body
Compliance statements
Amenities/Quality of Life Item 106 “Community Solar Projects” and 108 “AB32/SB375” are adopted policy items contained in the FY 2018-21 Adopted City Council Priority Workplan, effective November 1, 2017, revised June 18, 2018.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This update is not a project and is for informational purpose only, therefore does not require CEQA clearance. However, the original project (PW 611) was determined to be categorically exempt in accordance with Sections 15301 and 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines, on the basis that these projects are exterior alterations to existing structures and new accessory structures at existing sites.
BACKGROUND
The City of San Pablo, in partnership with the cities of EI Cerrito, Albany, and Piedmont, were awarded a grant funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Showcase Communities Program to establish the Small Cities Climate Action Partnership (SCCAP). As part of the SCCAP's municipal emissions reduction activities, the partnership worked with an independent solar consulting firm, Optony Inc., to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of installing photovoltaic (PV) on all facilities in each city. On September 6, 2011, the City Council received the results of the study and adopted Resolution 2011-094 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Cooperative Agreement with the other SCCAP cities to jointly solicit proposals for the procurement of municipal solar power.
In 2012, based on the findings from the solar feasibility report, the City Council approved the installation of a total of 325kW of solar PV power at three City sites:
• City Hall - 13831 San Pablo Avenue
• San Pablo Police Department - 13880 San Pablo Avenue
• Church Lane Senior Center - 1943 Church Lane
The feasibility report demonstrated that solar at these sites, with estimated costs of $1.78 million, would provide substantial utility bill savings over 30 years.
Construction on the Municipal Solar Project started in July 2013 and was completed in November 2014. The completed project installed 320kW solar PV power at a total cost of $1.7 million dollars.
Solar Analysis Update:
Since the completion of the project, City staff has been monitoring the solar system to analyze if the project is meeting the intended outcomes. The project has been tracked according to the 2012/13 baseline year. Table 1 shows the baseline electricity consumption/costs and the Municipal Solar Project projected PV production and cost savings from 2014-2018.
Table 1 - Municipal Solar Project Projected Outcomes
|
|
Baseline/ Projected |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2017/18 Results as Compared to Baseline |
2017/18 Results as Compared Previous Year |
|
Annual Usage (kWh) |
626,872 |
667,114 |
695,421 |
690,018 |
703,498 |
112% |
102% |
|
Annual PV Generated (kWh) |
437,244 |
428,340 |
423,167 |
431,050 |
438,395 |
100% |
102% |
|
Annual Savings ($) |
$87,826 |
$88,845 |
$88,586 |
$95,620 |
$97,213 |
111% |
102% |
Findings:
After collecting four years of data, it was established that the Municipal Solar Project is saving more money than expected and within the margin of error for electricity production. If the current results are extrapolated over the 30-year lifetime of the project, this solar system is expected provide over $3 million dollars in cost savings for the City of San Pablo.
FISCAL IMPACT
This is an informational item only - there is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENT: Municipal Solar Project Update 2017-2018 Presentation