Agenda

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C.107

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Brian M. Balbas, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Date:	July 10, 2018

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

APPROVE the Distributed Energy Resource Plan for County facilities

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/10/2018

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Ramesh Kanzaria 925-957-2480

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: July 10, 2018
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Plan prepared by Public Works, dated July 10,2018, and DIRECT the Public Works Director, or designee, to proceed with solicitation of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the implementation of components of the DER Plan, Countywide.

FISCAL IMPACT:

DER program development costs including minor construction management and incidental construction costs are funded by California Solar Initiative (CSI) rebate funds which accrued to the County through the R-REP solar projects completed three years ago.

BACKGROUND:

Implementation of Distributed Energy Resources in County facilities is the most expedient, efficient and effective way to meet the statutory renewable energy goals and the carbon reduction requirements of SB350 (Clean Energy & Pollution Reduction Act) and the objectives of the County's Climate Action.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The California Energy Commission (CEC) defines DER as grid-connected distributed renewable energy systems, energy efficiency (EE), energy storage (ES), electric vehicles (EV), and demand response (DR) supported by a wide-ranging suite of policies adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
Public Works staff in coordination with the Conservation and Development Department developed a draft DER plan which was presented to the Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability and the Sustainability Commission. Input from the Committee and Commission resulted in the final DER Plan.
Public Works has initiated a significant amount of the ground work necessary to develop projects in the three primary DER categories as follows:
PV Systems – At its meeting on December 19, 2017, The Board of Supervisors authorized Public Works to enter into Interconnection Applications with PG&E for eleven County-owned facilities. These applications resulted from a CPUC decision specifically benefiting schools and municipalities through solar friendly rate conditions from PG&E for a ten-year period. Upon Board approval of the DER Plan, Public Works intends to issue an RFQ and select a solar developer(s) to finance and install these systems with a target completion date of FY18/19.
Energy Efficiency - PG&E offers a zero interest loan program where the loan payment is equal to or lessor than the savings resulting from the energy efficiency improvements. Known as on-bill financing (OBF), this program has evolved over the years to assure that the savings estimates are accurate and that savings persist through out the payment period. Several County-owned facilities have been identified that will benefit greatly from upgrades to the HVAC, controls and lighting systems. Upon Board approval of the DER Plan, Public Works intends to issue an RFQ and select a preferred Energy Service Company or companies to work with as partners on this project.
Electric Vehicle Charging - In response to increasing demand from County employees and to reach the goals and objectives of the Climate Action Plan (CAP), the County is pursuing the continued addition of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) at selected facilities. County staff has determined that the most cost effective means of getting chargers installed in County-owned facilities is by participating in PG&E’s Electric Vehicle Charge Network (EVCN) program. Under the EVCN program, PG&E pays for, maintains and coordinates all “make ready” infrastructure from their transformer to the each of 10 parking spaces at a County facility. PG&E also pays for a portion of the charge port equipment (which is purchased and installed by the County) through a rebate in an amount not to exceed the cost of the charge port and associated mounting hardware. Marin Clean Energy will contribute additional rebates, again with the limitation of not to exceed 100% of the cost of the EV charger. The County will incur only the cost of installing the EV charger and a small fraction of the cost of the EV charger (typical full cost is $4,000 per charge head).
These key DER programs involve a minimal amount of upfront funding by the County and provide years of sustained energy and cost savings, significant emissions reductions, increased comfort and safety for County employees and the public and result in significant capital improvements to County-owned buildings.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to approve the DER plan will result in a lost opportunity to meet the requirements of the County's Climate Action Plan.