Sustainability Advisory Board Agenda and Packet 2018 01 17

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8 CE-IT2S2: Expand solar and The City currently has 1178 kW of solar capacity online to use at the City's • Explore and compare opportunities renewable energy purchases municipal facilities, with another 1000 kW purchased that is not yet functional. to transition some or all of the for City buildings When that solar array comes online at or around the end of 2017, the resulting 2.178 MW is expected to enable the City to source over 50% of its municipal electric demand with renewable energy. remaining 50% of municipal facilities' energy needs to renewable sources, as appropriate. The City is in the beginning stages of exploring the possibility of further alternative energy sources. This may or may nor include "purchases". Until the most recent purchases come online and we can determine what eligible metered electricity we have left, however, it is not possible to make a useful comparison between available renewable avenues for the remainder of the City's energy needs. Going forward, the City has several potential options to offset its remaining energy needs to renewable sources: 1) Upcoming Renewable Connect Program through Xcel: Xcel is preparing to roll out a large solar campaign for residential and commercial in 2018. The idea is mostly familiar - the customer would buy in at a set rate for X years, but the customer would also get the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and deal directly with Xcel, rather than with a third party. Like Xcel's wind source program, the rate would be slightly higher than the existing rate/watt, but it would be set, hopefully offsetting inflation expectations at some level. Details are in process of being determined and are not yet set. The customer would tap into an enormous solar pool that Xcel would construct at a remote location. 2) Solar garden in Louisville for municipal / residential use: Early conversations with a nonprofit solar garden company would not only offer the City another opportunity to further offset its own energy load, but would also allow low income residents an opportunity to participate in solar credits at a significantly reduced monthly energy cost. The challenges are: availability of city land, length of time to develop, ROI after staff time and current market conditions are considered. 3) Solar garden offsite for municipal use only: Early conversations with a for- profit company indicates that solar capacity would be available within 12 months, should the City wish to make an agreement for another