Title
Resolution to Extend Contract with the U.S. Department of Energy and to Amend Contract with Clean Energy Coalition ($45,000.00) for Solar America Cities Project
Memorandum
The attached resolution authorizes a one-year extension to the City of Ann Arbor's two-year grant agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) for the Solar America Cities Project. This extension will allow the city to continue to utilize our $200,000.00 grant to lead an effort to integrate solar energy throughout the Ann Arbor community by 2015. In addition, this amendment will also modify the grant work plan tasks, which have already received approval by DOE.
The resolution also authorizes a $45,000 amendment to the grant sub-grantee agreement with the Clean Energy Coalition to develop and implement marketing and business plans for a Community-Supported Solar Energy Program. The $45,000 is from the original DOE award and will be used for these purposes instead of for City rebates and incentives as originally planned due to restrictions on the use of DOE grant funds.
Ann Arbor is one of 25 cities in the United States designated by the DOE as a Solar America City. This federal program has a goal of establishing a core group of cities to serve as examples to the rest of the nation on how to implement successful solar energy programs at the municipal level. For this grant, the City engaged 11 partners who, along with the City, committed to provide a total of $335,003.00 in matching funds and in-kind services. In addition, the Ann Arbor grant application included support letters from DTE Energy, the Ann Arbor Energy Commission, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Governor Granholm. This grant is helping Ann Arbor meet its renewable energy goals and is expected to draw national recognition to Ann Arbor and jobs to Michigan.
This grant represents a major step in the City's efforts to reach the renewable energy goals set by City Council on May 1, 2006. It has brought together a strong, extensive public-private partnership in the Ann Arbor community and demonstrates a true commitment by this community to lead the way to a clean, sustainable energy future.
Grant funds will continue to be available for the life of the project regardless of fiscal year, and the Energy Office will continue to provide grant management services.
Staff
Prepared By: Andrew Brix, Energy Programs Manager
Reviewed By: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved By: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor set ambitious renewable energy goals at the May 1, 2006 City Council meeting with Resolution R-172-5-06;
Whereas, In 2007, the US Department of Energy awarded the City of Ann Arbor a two-year, $200,000.00 Solar America Cites Project grant to lead an effort to integrate solar energy throughout the Ann Arbor community by 2015;
Whereas, This grant brought together a strong, extensive public/private partnership in the Ann Arbor community and demonstrates a true commitment by this community to move to clean, sustainable energy for our future;
Whereas, The City engaged 11 community partners to commit a total of $335,003.00 in matching funds and in-kind services making a project total of $535,003.00;
Whereas, Renewable energy regulation and funding opportunities have changed greatly in the past year, and tasks for this grant have been modified to adapt to these opportunities;
Whereas, The U.S. Department of Energy has approved a one-year grant extension and modifications to the grant work plan to continue this effort;
Whereas, The Clean Energy Coalition, a key partner on the project that was awarded a sub-grantee agreement approved in Resolution R-07-498, will lead several of these new or modified tasks;
Whereas, Sufficient grant funds remain to fund an amendment to the Clean Energy Coalition sub-grantee agreement to perform these tasks;
Whereas, The Clean Energy Coalition received Human Rights approval on June 26, 2009 and Living Wage approval on April 28, 2009; and
Whereas, The City's Energy Office will continue to provide grant management services for this grant;
RESOLVED, That the City Council authorize a one-year no cost time extension and grant work plan modification amendment to the US Department of Energy Solar America Cities Project grant agreement;
RESOLVED, That the City Council authorizes an amendment to the sub-grant agreement with Clean Energy Coalition to perform new and modified grant tasks in the amount of $45,000.00;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to sign the amended contracts after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.