Accept Solar on Public Buildings grant and authorize the mayor and city manager to execute the agreement for solar installation at Bobby Theisen Park
To accept the grant awarded to the city through the Solar on Public Buildings program and to approve the agreement with All Energy Solar for the installation of solar on the Bobby Theisen Park building.
The city council is being asked to accept grant funding and approve the agreement for a solar installation on the new park building at Bobby Theisen Park.
City staff applied for and was awarded a grant through the recent round of the Solar on Public Buildings program through the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The program awards grants for up to 70% of project costs for a solar array that is built on or adjacent to a public building and is the lesser of a 40 kW system capacity of 120% of the building's annual electricity consumption. The grant is able to be combined with the Federal Direct Pay tax credit which may cover the whole cost of the system.
As part of the application process, staff requested proposals from solar contractors for a rooftop solar installation at the new park building at Bobby Theisen Park. Proposals were received from All Energy Solar and Cedar Creek Energy. All Energy Solar provided the low quote with a total system cost of $94,800. The Solar on Public Buildings grant will fund $66,360 of that amount and the city will plan to apply for the Federal Direct Pay tax credit for the remainder, $28,440. The project plans to install 82 panels on the east, south, and west facing portions of the roof.
If approved by the council and once the grant agreement is complete, All Energy Solar will begin the interconnection process with Xcel and complete the final design work with the installation to take place next year.
It is recommended that the city council accept accept Solar on Public Buildings grant and authorize the mayor and city manager to execute the agreement for solar installation at Bobby Theisen Park.