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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 03/03/2009 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 024, 2009, APPROPRI ITEM NUMBER: 10 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: March 3, 2009 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Terri Bryant Patty Bigner Brian Janonis SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No.024,2009,Appropriating Unanticipated Grant Revenue in the Light and Power Fund for the Residential Solar Rebate Program and Authorizing the Transfer of Matching Funds Previously Appropriated in the Light and Power Operating Budget. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. FINANCIAL IMPACT Light and Power Energy Services has received an additional $25,000 in grant funding from the Governor's Energy Office to continue offering solar rebates for eligible residential solar installations within the service area. Existing appropriations will be used for the total of$25,000 in matching funds required. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Ordinance appropriates funds received from additional grant funding received from the State of Colorado's Governor's Energy Office totaling $25,000. Combined with the Utilities matching funds, $50,000 will be used for the Residential Solar Rebate Program (Photovoltaic). BACKGROUND The City of Fort Collins Utilities received$25,000 in Governor's Energy Office grant funds in July, 2008 to develop and administer residential solar incentives. The grant funds were matched with $25,000 of Light and Power operations money. The program offered an incentive to Fort Collins Utilities'residential electric customers to install photovoltaic systems on their homes. The incentive planned for the program was $2 per peak installed watt with the incentive not to exceed $4,000 for any single system. The systems included in the current program can be no larger than 10 kilowatts and must meet design and interconnection criteria. Energy Services staff, having successfully implemented the pilot phase solar rebate program, requested additional funding form Governor's Energy Office to continue the Residential Solar Rebate Program (Photovoltaic). March 3, 2009 -2- Item No. 10 The additional funding will support a two-tier program with a Base Level incentive and a High Level incentive. The Base Level incentive is currently planned to be$3 per peak installed kilowatt capped at 3kW and not to exceed $9,000 for any single system. The High Level incentive is currently planned to be $4 per peak installed watt capped at 3kW and not to exceed $12,000 for any single system. ORDINANCE NO. 024, 2009 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED GRANT REVENUE IN THE LIGHT AND POWER FUND FOR THE RESIDENTIAL SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF MATCHING FUNDS PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED IN THE LIGHT AND POWER OPERATING BUDGET WHEREAS, the City's Residential Solar Rebate Program (Photovoltaic) Program (the "Program") offers residential electric customers of the Fort Collins Utility financial incentives to install photovoltaic systems on their homes; and WHEREAS, City staff, having successfully implemented the pilot phase of the Program, requested a grant to continue the Program; and WHEREAS, the State of Colorado's Governor's Energy Office ("GEO") awarded the City a grant in the amount of$25,000 (the "Grant") to continue the Program; and WHEREAS, the Grant requires matching funds of$25,000, which are available in existing appropriations in the Light and Power budget and available for transfer to the Light and Power grant projects; and WHEREAS, Article V, Section 9, of the City Charter permits the City Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year,provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations,in combination with all previous appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the appropriation of the Grant will not cause the total amount appropriated in the Light and Power Fund to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated revenues to be received in that fund during any fiscal year; and WHEREAS,Article V,Section 10,of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to transfer by ordinance any unexpected and unencumbered amount or portion thereof from one project to another project,provided that the purpose for which the transferred funds are to be expended remains unchanged. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated from unanticipated grant revenue in the Light and Power Fund the sum of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) for expenditure in the Light and Power Fund for the Residential Solar Rebate Program(Photovoltaic). Section 2. That unexpended appropriated amount of TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($25,000) is hereby authorized for transfer to the Light and Power Fund projects grant for expenditure in the Residential Solar Rebate Program (Photovoltaic). Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 3rd day of March, A.D. 2009, and to be presented for final passage on the 24th day of March, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 24th day of March, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk