Title
Receive a status update on the Solar Facilities Project; and provide direction to staff as appropriate.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a status update on the Solar Facilities Project; and provide direction to staff as appropriate.
SUMMARY:
At its November 16, 2017 meeting, the AEE Committee received a status report on the Go Green! Monterey County Work Plan. Staff reported on a potential opportunity to enhance a solar generation project for County facilities. In October, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reopened the eligibility window for local governments to secure a 10-year grandfathering period in PG&E's previous Net Energy Metering (NEM 1.0) rate structure program. This NEM 1.0 program provides more "solar-friendly" energy rates to solar photovoltaic (PV) projects than the subsequent Net Energy Metering Program (NEM 2.0).
After thorough analysis of the NEM 1.0 grandfathering extension, staff decided not to move forward on submitting an interconnection application with PG&E before the December 25, 2017 deadline. The decision to forgo this opportunity is mostly due to the short timeframe to submit an interconnection application, as well as to fund and develop a project once the application was approved. At the time staff investigated the CPUC ruling, a funding source had not been identified by the CAO-IGLA office to facilitate consulting fees to design a solar photovoltaic (PV) system and draft the interconnection agreement within the two-month window. Additionally, the County would only have one year to fund and begin implementation of a solar PV project before the interconnection agreement would expire. Alternatively, a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which would not require up-front capital costs, would carry a high level of risk and uncertainty for the long-term economics of the project.
Go Green! Program staff will continue to investigate potential solar PV opportunities to offset County utility costs. Although the NEM 1.0 progr...
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