EQC Meeting Date: February 19, 2020
To: Members of the Environmental Quality Commission
From: Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Solar for Northfield
Body
Action Requested:
The EQC receives an update on the Solar for Northfield Project
Summary Report:
In December 2019, the City was awarded a grant from the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) for a project we are calling Solar for Northfield. The City is partnering with Ted Redmond from paleBLUEdot, LLC to carry out the assessment component.
Staff will provide more information on timeline at the meeting. The following is a brief summary from the grant application of the project.
The City of Northfield has just completed our Climate Action Plan with an aggressive goal of achieving 100% Carbon Free Electricity by 2030 and to be 100% Carbon Free by 2040. Solar For Northfield is an important next step in the City achieving those goals. Through this project, the City looks to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency by:
• Advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy for affordable multi-family housing.
• Advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy for the City’s facilities.
• Advancing City-Wide renewable energy by creating a city-wide rooftop solar pv potentials study including total capacity, projected solar market absorption rates, goals for installed solar at key dates, and economic and environmental benefits.
Solar for Northfield project goals are to determine city-wide solar pv potentials as well as the energy efficiency, solar pv feasibility, and potential of achieving Net Zero at all primary City facilities and key affordable multi-family housing buildings within the City. In addition, the City looks to identify actionable next steps to advance the renewable energy potential of City owned properties.
Solar For Northfield’s outcomes will be, for all primary City facilities: an ENERGY STAR Portfolio record (or B3 current record); a solar pv feasibility assessment including a project budget and detailed concept plan; and a City Facility 100% Renewable Master Plan outlining a pathway for renewable energy at all sites. Lastly, this project will result in community engagement communicating the benefits of solar energy to City residents and businesses.
Planned Project Approach
1) Create a city-wide solar pv potentials study including economic and environmental benefits.
2) Identify energy use and efficiency levels of government buildings compared to regional/national peer groups.
3) Determining the feasibility of solar energy and develop solar pv array concept design for government sites
4) Create Solar PV Master Plan for City owned facilities.
5) Advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy for affordable multi-family housing by:
• Designing and implementing an outreach program to the City’s affordable multi-family housing building owners
• Development of renewable energy feasibility concepts and ROI for each participating multi-family building
• Providing a Multi-Family Building Efficiency assessment combined with upgrade installations for LED lights, and high efficiency faucet aerators and showerheads
6) Develop and execute community outreach to Northfield residents and businesses.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
The City is contributing $3,000 toward the project from the funds allocated for Climate Action Plan Implementation in 2020 and the grant is providing an additional $3,000.
Tentative Timelines:
Project is beginning in February 2020 and will be completed by December 31, 2020.