2. Staff briefing regarding Solar on City Facilities — original pdf

Backup

Solar on City Facilities Response to Council Resolution 20250522-052 November 19, 2025 Joint Sustainability Committee Agenda • Background and Context • Approach • Site Screening • Request for Proposals • Schedule and Next Steps 2 Resolution 20250522-052 • Conduct an analysis of City property and make recommendations for the areas that would maximize the installation of solar generation, prioritizing general fund properties. • Annually calculate any energy cost savings or revenue generated and utilize an equivalent amount of funding for projects that have a beneficial environmental impact. • Evaluate opportunities for the installation of solar capacity on properties owned or operated by other local governmental entities within the Austin Energy load zone. • Analyze and make recommendations for requiring solar contractors who install City-owned solar installations to comply with the highest level of worker protections , wage rates, benefits and utilization of Department of Labor registered apprenticeship programs and/or graduates from the Austin Infrastructure Academy. 3 A Changing Federal Solar Landscape Infl ation Reduction Act (2021) • Elective pay / direct allows cities to benefit from existing tax credits 30% tax credit available (+10% for domestic content) • One Big Beautiful Bill Act (2025) • Phases out tax credits for clean energy (including solar). • Projects must “commence construction” by July 4, 2026 to get tax credits. OR • Projects must be placed into service before the end of 2027 to get tax credits. 4 Assess Collaborative team effort Engage with building owning departments upfront Inventory and assess current city facilities Determine solar potential Procure Issue RFP for multiple sites to achieve economies of scale Evaluate proposals and ownership models: • City Owned • Solar Standard Offer Decide and Build Select winning proposal(s) and identify funding (if applicable) Build Solar ASAP to leverage tax credits Build O&M into the contract for long-term performance Approach 5 There are three types of sites for municipal solar projects Rooftop Canopy Ground-mounted 6 Goal: Identify technically feasible sites to put forward, ask solar developers to propose a portfolio that maximizes scale, cost-effectiveness, and community benefits. Facilities Screening Over 250 properties ~120 sites meet basic criteria: size, roof life, electrical capacity We are here Department validation In shortlist for RFP Solar proposed by vendors 7 Schedule and Next Steps 1 2 3 4 5 CWEP Council Committ ee: Update on our approach, process, and RFP release. (Dec 2) RFP Release: Two-steps: qualifications + proposal and pricing. (early Dec) RFP Response Analysis and Decision: Evaluate bids, decide on approach/financial model. (Jan - Mar) City Management Approval: Final signoff and go- ahead to City Council. (Mar - Apr) City Council Agenda: Approval, contract, and start construction. (Apr - Jun) 8 Thank you! 9