2015-01-27_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Roseville Public Works, Environment and Transportation Commission Agenda Item Date: January 27, 2015 Item No: 7 Item Description: Solar Energy Discussion Update Background: Staff has continued to work on developing a solar project for Roseville. The following is the background for the City Council meeting on the 26t . Staff will update the Commission on the Council's actions on this issue: BACKGROUND Over the past several months, City staff has conducted research, met with Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs), met with solar energy installation companies and financing organizations, and organized presentations to both the Public Works, Environment and Transportation Commission (PWETC) and the City Council to discuss the feasibility of installing solar panels on one or more of the City's campus buildings. There are several options available to the City for the installation of solar panels on City facilities. The most cost effective option is the Made in Minnesota Solar Incentive Program which involves rebates paid out annually over 10 years if the panels used are "made in Minnesota." The rebate amount is based on the amount of energy produced by the system. Applications for this program are accepted through February 28, 2015. A lottery system is used to select the successful applications. Solar installations are currently feasible due to tax credit opportunities and rebate programs. City staff provided energy use information from city hall, the maintenance building, the new fire station and the Skating Center on the city campus to Sundial Energy and Newport Partners to determine the feasibility of installations on these facilities. Their findings suggest a 40kw installation on the City Hall building and the Fire Station is feasible. There is adequate area on city hall and on the new fire station building for these installations. The systems are connected to the building electrical panel and reduce the amount of electric energy purchased from Neel. They also feed power back onto Neel's grid if there is not enough demand from the facility to use the solar generated power. 40kw is the maximum size installation under the Made in Minnesota rebate program per metered facility. In order to take advantage of the tax credits available, the city would enter into a guaranteed energy savings contract with the owner of the installation. The installation would be turned over to the city after a defined number of years. The current proposal would turn the installation over to the city after 6 years. These types of guaranteed energy savings projects are allowed under State Statute 471.345 Subdivision 13