Local Government Energy Academy August 30, 2018 The Town of Palisade and Solar Energy
• Presented by Frank Watt, Public Works Director for the Town of Palisade • Thank you to Mike McCabe at Oak Leaf Energy Partners for the use of their material
How Do We Get There? • Developing a Strategy • Energy Use Assessment • Communicate with Key Staff, Elected Officials & the Public • Implementing Elements of the Strategy • Communicate with Key Staff, Elected Officials & the Public • Re-evaluate
Developing a Strategy • Find funding for studies and planning first? • Respond to incentives from the utility provider? • Utilize special programs for energy efficient products? • Discuss lease/purchase options with alternative energy suppliers and include subscription services in the mix? • Discuss sharing costs or creating economies of scale with other agencies? • Does opportunity override planning?
Big Step: Energy Use Assessment • Identify the facilities that you want to evaluate • Collect relevant data – 1-5 years of energy use (Electric/Natural Gas) – Impacts to Budget (cost) • Establish Energy Conservation Measures • Prioritize – Develop a message – Save Energy – Save Money – Save the Planet
Facilities Facility Square Footage Civic Center 10,150 Community Center 7,690 Fire Department - East 3,500 Fire Department – West 2,000 Old Shop 3,500 Pool 1,975 Public Works 7,700 Town Hall 4,920 Water Treatment Plant 5,700 Total Square Feet 47,135
Criteria for Selecting Facilities • Programming – How is the Building Used? • Public Use? Staff Use? • Source of Funding? – General Fund or Enterprise Fund • Overriding Considerations: – Tabor? Age of Building? Historical Building?
Relevant Data Facility Electricity-Usage in kWh Cost Average Blended ($/kWh) Building A This can be by month or Need to know rate year. Seasonal variations structure and demand may be an important costs consideration Building B Water Plant Wastewater Plant Pool/Recreation Center Facility Natural Gas-Usage in Cost Average $/Therm Therms Building A This can be by month or year. Seasonal variations may be an important consideration Building B Water Plant Wastewater Plant Pool/Recreation Center
Establish Energy Conservation Measures ECMs • Primary Considerations: – Building Heating and Cooling Loads – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Equipment (condition and age) – Lighting – Domestic Water Consumption – Other Equipment Loads and Uses
Establish Energy Conservation Measures ECMs • Secondary Considerations: – Space Utilization – Occupancy Schedules – Control of Lighting & HVAC During Occupancy – Building Design and Location
Communicate with Key Staff and Elected Officials • Potential sources of funding • Key partners • Solicitation process • Realistic outcomes and timelines • Long term goals (vision)
Solar Panels at the Palisade Water Treatment Plant
Project Scope – Summary : The Town of Palisade is seeking opportunities to collaborate with a solar energy project developer for the purpose of developing an on-site solar electricity generation project at the Town’s Water Treatment facility in Palisade, Colorado. Development of this project is encouraged by a utility incentive program that was implemented in Colorado for purposes of compliance with Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard (RES). The Colorado Legislature increased the RES to require higher percentages of solar electricity generation by qualifying retail utilities. Though not subject to the RES, The Town of Palisade is a customer of Xcel Energy, Inc. (Xcel), a major U.S. investor-owned electric and natural gas utility with regulated operations in Colorado that is subject to compliance with the RES. Prospective developers responding to this Opportunity Announcement must be willing to prepare and submit applications to Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Medium Programs for customer-sited photovoltaic (PV) systems at Town facilities. • • Project Structure: The Town of Palisade expects the developer to be capable of designing, installing and if necessary, financing, a ground-mounted PV system that can produce approximately 100% of the power needed at the Town’s water treatment plant. The system will be located on Town owned property at 865 Rapid Creek Road, Palisade, Colorado. Approximately 1 acre of land will be available for the project. In addition, the Town may consider an outright purchase or may expect the developer to own, operate and maintain the PV system for at least twenty years. • If a third party developer is required for financing, the developers must be willing to enter • into specific agreements with various parties which may be involved in the successful execution of this project. These agreements include the following: (1) a no-cost easement with Town for access to the land; (2) a power purchase agreement with the Town for the electricity generated by the ground-mounted PV system; (3) a site use agreement with the Town for installation, operation and maintenance activities conducted at the site; (4) a third-party rebate contract with Xcel; and (5) a third-party SO-REC contract with Xcel for all SO-RECs generated.
Demand as a Percentage of Total Bill
kWhs per Million Gallons Treated
Monthly and Net Generated kWh 50,000 40,000 Energy Generated by the Customer (kWh) 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 (10,000) Aug-13 Oct-13 Dec-13 Feb-14 Apr-14 Jun-14 Aug-14 Oct-14 Dec-14 Feb-15 Apr-15
What Does it Cost? • Lease Payment = $1,812 per month • Average Total Cost including Lease Payment = $2,184 per month • Average Credit from Xcel =$885 per month • Average Net Monthly Cost = $1,699 in 2012 • Average Net Monthly Cost = $1,299 Since August of 2013 • Average Monthly Savings = $400 or $4,800 Annually
What Does it Cost? • Lease Payment = $1,812 per month • Average Total Cost including Lease Payment = $2,500 per month in 2017 (+316) • Average Credit from Xcel =$1,058 per month (+$173) • Average Net Monthly Cost = $1,442 in 2017 (+$143) • Still below costs in 2012 with no inflation factor
Basic Concepts of the Solar Garden at Cameo
Project Details • Two solar gardens in Mesa County – 4MW DC Total – 11,429 solar panels; ~24acres • Generates ~6.4M kWh annually – Subscribers can take up to 40% of output (~2.5M kWh Annually) – 5% goes to Low-Income Subscribers • Resides on land leased or owned by Oak Leaf Energy Partners • Subscription term is 20 years • Project will be commissioned by June 2018
Opportunity • Maximum 40% subscription still available • No upfront capital cost • Immediate savings on operating costs • Advance sustainability initiatives • No subscriber land/roof space required • No asset management responsibilities
General Savings Estimate Subscription % Subscription Amount (kWh) Total Nominal CO2 Offset Savings* in Tons** 40% 2.4M $579k 42k 30% 1.8M $434k 31k 20% 1.2M $290k 20k *Assumes 2.5% bill credit escalation @ 5% discount rate **Based on average CO2 emissions per kWh in Colorado
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