Minutes 05-05-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Community engagement and equity • Collaboration • Economic development Solar Initiatives -Action Items • Receive information • Permission to continue to develop pilot solar photovoltaic system • Permission to include pilot in 2015 Solarize Orange County Campaign Next Steps • Pursue investors • Develop agreement • Install pilot system • Manage • Assess and repeat elsewhere If the Board agreed with the Manager's recommendation, staff would move forward with the solar pilot project as a part of the 2015 Orange County "Solarize" campaigns, pursue both solar investors and development partners through the appropriate statutory procurement processes, and provide ongoing progress reports to the Board. Staff projects that the initial pilot project will be completed and operational no later than December of 2015, and that this could be the first of many facility photovoltaic solar systems providing renewable energy in lieu of less sustainable energy sources. Commissioner Price asked if the Tesla Powerwall will be a part of this process. Brennan Bouma said the Tesla Powerwall just came out last week, and the presentation is just a broad update. Commissioner Price asked if the size of the Powerwall is known. Brennan Bouma said the PowerPoint shows a picture of two of the cells, side by side. He said up to nine cells can be stacked, side by side. He said it is about 7 inches thick by 2 to 3 feet tall, and is meant to hang on the wall. Commissioner Jacobs said in the CIP, FY2017-2018 has a generator for the Rogers Road Community Center for $50,000. He said there is a total of$400,000 in the CIP for generators, over the years. He said it seems unwise to keep investing in generators when they will soon hopefully be obsolete. Commissioner Jacobs said by the time FY 2017-2018 arrives, he would like to incorporate solar batteries instead of a generator. He said he would also like for staff to look at alternative options within the realm of solar energy for the funds intended for generators. Commissioner Rich asked if there could be clarification about how the panels would go on the roof of the RRCC, and where the battery would be placed inside the building. Brennan Bouma said, in regards to Commissioner Jacobs' comment, he would like to consult the expert team regarding the possibility of solar battery back-ups in the future. He said energy storage has been discussed and the costs of it are falling dramatically. Brennan Bouma said the project could move forward in two ways: 1. Energy generated by the sun can be sold directly to the Utility Company. He said the current rate for that energy is about 4 cents per kilowatt hour. 2. Net metering, where a separate meter is on the solar panels that keeps a tally throughout the year and displaces the costs seen on energy bills. Brennan Bouma said the second option is what is mostly being considered in Orange County. He said this is about 8 to 10 cents per kilowatt hour.