Title
Resolution Authorizing a Commitment to Pursue Community Solar Options that are compatible with the City Council “Resolution Authorizing a Commitment to Making the City of Ann Arbor a Solar Ready Community”
Body
Whereas, In December 2012, the Ann Arbor City Council passed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) an ambitious multi-strategy vision to reduce our community-wide emissions 8% by 2015, 25% by 2025, and 90% by 2050, relative to year 2000 baseline emissions levels;
Whereas, 20% of the CAP’s 2025 electrical savings goal is slated to be met with solar photovoltaics (or equivalent) (i.e., 2.4 MW installed each year, for the next ten years for a total of 24 MW);
Whereas, In June 2016 the City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution Authorizing a Commitment to Making the City of Ann Arbor a Solar Ready Community which called for the City of Ann Arbor to support efforts to make the City a Solar Ready Community and all affected City departments and agencies to adopt the Clean Energy Coalition-developed Solar Ready Community guidelines towards the goal of securing the designation of Solar Ready Community for the city;
Whereas Community Solar offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations whose property is not compatible for onsite solar installation to invest in an offsite solar array and receive the financial and environmental benefits of solar ownership;
Whereas The environmental, economic benefits and financial returns associated with utility and non-utility Community Solar compel the City to promote solar energy as part of the CAP;
Whereas, With some negotiated adjustments, four Community Solar options appear viable for endorsement by the City Council for local Ann Arbor citizens;
Whereas, To date, the local utility company, DTE Energy, has only recently offered a voluntary renewable energy tariff mirroring elements of a community solar option; and
Whereas The Energy Office has launched a “Solar for All” program that includes a Community Solar Initiative and, that the Ann Arbor Climate Partnership and members of the Energy and Environmental commissions, has made an associated resource request for City Council funding of a program;
RESOLVED, That City Council direct the City Administrator to include Community Solar in the A2 Solar Energy program and to include a Community Solar program, in accordance with the recommendations in the February 14 2017 Energy Commission Report to the Energy Commission on Community Solar and Ann Arbor, MI, as part of the A2 Solar Program and Solar Ready Community efforts; and
RESOLVED, That City Council direct the City Administrator to work towards: (a) all Community Solar Service Providers that are part of the A2 Solar Program Community Solar Option produce documentation that clearly defines true costs of installing and operating such community solar projects and how such translate into credits for Ann Arbor-based subscribers; and, (b) any and all participants in such programs be officially advised that they should consult with their financial advisor(s) regarding the investment payback before participating in any and all related Community Solar Programs.