Title
Resolution to Adopt City Policy on Solar Power Generation and Energy Efficiency in City-owned Facilities
Memorandum
The attached resolution creates a policy to support renewable energy generation and energy efficiency standards in existing and new city buildings.
Staff
Prepared by Council Members Smith & Frenzel
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, The State of Michigan Building Code (MBC) prohibits the City from mandating greater energy efficiency than the MBC, therefore the City has little ability to create higher energy standards in private development;
Whereas, The City has the ability to require maximum energy efficiency and use of alternative energy generation at city-owned facilities; and,
Whereas, The following facilities consume a significant amount of electricity and have significant solar power generation capability:
|
Facility |
Electricity Consumption (kWh) |
|
Airport Administration Building |
126,080 |
|
Buhr Park Bathhouse and Ice Rink |
475,480 |
|
Burns Senior Citizen Center |
28,290 |
|
Cobbelstone Farm Visitor's Center |
9,643 |
|
Farmers Market Building and Grounds |
36,880 |
|
Fire Station 1 |
393,760 |
|
Fire Station 2 |
20,801 |
|
Fire Station 3 |
36,598 |
|
Fire Station 4 |
36,777 |
|
Fire Station 6 |
56,447 |
|
Fuller Park Bathhouse |
146,522 |
|
Mack Swimming Pool |
202,160 |
|
Northside Community Center |
29,305 |
|
Veterans Memorial Bathhouse Ice Arena |
813,335 |
Whereas, Adopting a city policy to require installation of solar panels along with other energy efficiency measures (weatherization, energy star compliant appliances etc.) will have a significant impact in making progress on community sustainability and climate action goals;
Whereas, Such a policy requires solar generation and energy efficiency to be included in the design of all renovations and new construction and thus has a far greater impact than one or two capital projects.
Whereas, The Environmental Commission has recommended via a resolution passed unanimously on April 27, 2017 that the Ann Arbor City Council adopts a policy requiring the following:
1. All renovations of city facilities comply with current Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria for existing buildings and incorporate solar power and other alternative/renewable energy sources to the greatest extent possible; and
2. All new city facilities achieve a minimum of LEED Silver certification and incorporate solar power and other alternative/renewable energy sources to the greatest extent possible; and
Whereas, The Environmental Commission also recommended via a resolution the Ann Arbor City Council direct the City Administrator to provide an annual report on facilities energy efficiencies for any new or renovated projects affected by the above policy with the annual budget request and that these requirements remain in effect for a period of seven years from the date of adoption, unless otherwise renewed or rendered no longer applicable;
RESOLVED, City Council adopts a policy requiring all renovations of city facilities that are included in the Capital Improvements Plan comply with current Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria for existing buildings and incorporate solar power and other alternative/renewable energy sources to the greatest extent possible; and
RESOLVED, City Council adopts a policy requiring all new city facilities achieve a minimum of LEED Silver certification and incorporate solar power and other alternative/renewable energy sources to the greatest extent possible; and
RESOLVED, City Council directs the City Administrator to provide an annual report on facilities energy efficiencies with the annual budget request; and
RESOLVED, these requirements remain in effect for a period of seven years from the date of adoption, unless otherwise renewed or rendered no longer applicable. At the conclusion of the seven-year period, the Administrator shall inform Council that the policy is sunsetting.
As Amended by Ann Arbor City Council on May 1, 2017