HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/9/2024 - Memorandum From Brian Tholl And Leland Keller Re: Riverside Community Solar Project UpdateEnergy Services
222 Laporte Ave
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-416-4326
btholl@fcgov.com
CC: Cyril Vidergar, Assistant City Attorney II
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 3, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager & Interim Utilities Executive Director
Gretchen Stanford, Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections
From: Brian Tholl, Energy Services Manager
Leland Keller, Sr. Energy Services Engineer
Subject: Riverside Community Solar Project Update
The purpose of this memo is to provide information on the inverter failure at Riverside
Community Solar Project, the plan and timeline to repair the system, and how we are engaging
and communicating with owners.
BOTTOM LINE
On August 20, 2023, the Riverside Community Solar Project experienced an inverter failure that
caused power to stop generating. A request for proposals (RFP) has been posted that solicits
bids to restore the solar power generation. We anticipate selecting a vendor proposal in May.
The owners of the Riverside Community Solar Project are eager to start generating power again
and have expressed concerns along the way.
Utilities staff acknowledge the frustrations of the owners and have made it a priority to keep
them updated on the progress of this fix, through email and website updates. Additionally, we
are planning to host an open house to listen to owners’ concerns, answer questions, and
provide an overview of the design and timeline anticipated for completing the repowering
project.
BACKGROUND
Fort Collins takes climate action very seriously. Established in 2015 and under an agreement
with Clean Energy Collective, the Riverside Community Solar Project started as one way to
prove our commitment to clean energy.
Community Solar provides Utilities electric customers the opportunity to own solar generation
assets without installing solar at their home. This makes solar more accessible and provides a
way for local government, and the community it serves, to work together to achieve climate
goals. The Riverside Community Solar Owners are Fort Collins community members who have
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monetarily invested in this program and have committed to helping us achieve these larger
climate goals.
In 2020, Utilities acquired the Riverside Community Solar Project, including all responsibilities
and assets owned or controlled by Clean Energy Collective. Program Rules were then approved
and adopted by Council (Ordinance No. 141-2020). The Program Rules and Customer
Agreement for the Riverside Community Solar Project can be viewed at fcgov.com/community-
solar.
Since the site’s inverter failure in August, Utilities staff have been working closely with partners
to troubleshoot and fix the problem. After working with the inverter manufacturer to explore
warranty coverage and repair costs, Utilities did additional research on technology options
available in the marketplace and systems designs that could improve performance of the project
and reduce risks for the City and Riverside owners. Ultimately, Utilities decided to pursue
inverter replacement, instead of a repair as the optimal solution. On March 22, City staff posted
an RFP soliciting bids from qualified solar contractors to replace the failed inverter equipment.
This RFP solicits a requirement for a re-engineered design, procurement and construction, so a
qualified bidder that understands the project in all three phases can be chosen and the
repowering is completed as soon as possible. This reduces the likelihood of this issue
reoccurring in the future. We expect to select a vendor proposal in May.
To fund the inverter replacement, Utilities staff are evaluating several options. However, each
funding option will require Council approval. The RFP responses will provide more accurate cost
estimates but are expected to cost around $250,000 to $300,000.
Communication with the Riverside Community Solar owners is a major focus for us so that we
provide transparency and important updates about this project and the process of completing it.
So far, Utilities staff have communicated five updates to participating owners, and continue to
regularly provide updates, through a Community Solar Owners Resources web page:
Community Solar Participant Resources - City of Fort Collins (fcgov.com). In addition to these
webpage updates, we send out emails to each owner with the same information. Last, staff are
planning to host the Riverside owners in May to share the outcomes of the RFP and answer any
questions or concerns.
NEXT STEPS
Utilities staff continue work to support affected customers and implement technical solutions to
repowering Riverside, including the following next steps:
Evaluate the proposed cost of repairs, design, and equipment replacement options once
we receive proposals, which we expect to have by May.
Revisit and determine final project funding options upon receipt of proposals.
Continue to communicate updates to participants on progress towards repowering the
Riverside Community Solar Program.
Provide another memo update to City Leadership when solution and timeframe for repair
is available.
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