Title
Resolution to Accept Grant and Appropriate Funds from the US Department of Energy for Solar America Cities Project ($200,000.00 Federal Funds) and Approve Sub-Grants (8 votes required)
Memorandum
The attached resolution authorizes a grant agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) and accept a $200,000.00 two-year grant for the City of Ann Arbor to lead an effort to integrate solar energy throughout the Ann Arbor community by 2015. Ann Arbor was one of 13 cities in the United States chosen as a member of the Solar America Cities Project. 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 has engaged 11 partners who, along with the City, have committed to providing a total of $235,245.00 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 will help Ann Arbor meet its renewable energy goals and is expected to draw national recognition to Ann Arbor and jobs to Michigan. The resolution also approves two of the sub-grantee agreements because they exceed $25,000. Clean Energy Coalition will receive a sub-grant of $80,000 and provide an in kind match of $10,400.00. NextEnergy will not receive a sub-grant, but will provide an in kind match of $50,000. All other sub-grants are $25,000 or less.
The City of Ann Arbor has committed a total of $93,003.00 dollars in funds and in-kind match for this grant. A cash commitment of $60,000.00 will come from the Ann Arbor Municipal Energy Fund and will be used to install solar energy on City owned facilities. An additional $33,003.00 of in-kind staff time match has been committed over the two-year grant peri...
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