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12 <br /> in the Orange County Climate Council and said that they look forward to exploring further alignment of <br /> our sustainability goals and projects. <br /> In the future, more open dialogue between County and school staff during the project scoping phase <br /> would improve everyone's comfort with the process and also likely improve the effectiveness of <br /> potential climate action projects chosen. School staff felt that such discussions could happen with the <br /> full knowledge that the Commissioners would make the final funding decisions and that no undue <br /> expectations would be set. <br /> CHCCS staff made the additional point that once this item was confirmed as an item to go before the <br /> Commissioners, it would have been best if County staff had called to confirm our initial conversation <br /> about this project idea, and let them know that it was moving ahead. <br /> 4. How do the schools feel about the proposed grant requirements on considering leasing as well as <br /> monitoring, reporting, and displaying the information about solar energy generated? <br /> Staff from both OCS and CHCCCS agreed that they would be open to considering leasing as one option <br /> and wanted to learn more about it. <br /> They also agreed that most solar power systems these days are being built with connectivity to a web- <br /> based energy monitoring platform of some kind and that installing a display monitor to show the live <br /> energy production is not likely to be difficult.The ability to track live energy usage along with generation <br /> in one system may be more involved and expensive, but it is something staff agreed to explore as the <br /> project moves forward so that energy efficiency remains a focus along with renewable energy <br /> production. <br /> CHCCS already has experience with a complex and interactive live energy monitoring platform similar to <br /> the one that Commissioner Marcoplos described. In their experience with this one platform, it seemed <br /> that after some initial excitement it was rarely used. <br /> 5. What are the potential benefits of leasing a solar installation instead of purchasing one? <br /> Within this proposed grant program,the schools would work directly with solar companies bidding to <br /> win this project, and County staff would assist as desired. Both leasing and outright purchasing are <br /> financing options to explore. <br /> Leasing is a way to finance a solar installation that allows you to install a larger solar system by turning <br /> your up-front investment into a down-payment (see question#7). With the right size down-payment, <br /> lease payments can be smaller than the amount of energy cost avoided, creating immediate overall <br /> savings. <br />