HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 11/8/2016 - Memorandum From Lisa Rosintoski And John Phelan Re: Solarthon Building Project Luncheon SummaryUtilities
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700 Wood Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6700
970.221.6619 – fax
970.224.6003 – TDD
utilities@fcgov.com
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M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: October 25, 2016
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Lisa Rosintoski, Customer Connections Manager
John Phelan, Resource Conservation Manager
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kevin R. Gertig, Utilities Executive Director
RE: Solarthon Building Project Luncheon Summary
This memo is in response to Mayor Troxell’s Leadership Planning Team meeting request for a summary
of the luncheon with Governor Hickenlooper at the October 21 Solarthon event.
Bottom Line:
As part of the low-income solar project approved through the 2015-2016 Budget for Outcomes process,
Fort Collins Utilities partnered with Grid Alternatives to construct a community solar array to benefit
low-income customers in the Fort Collins community. The project further benefits from matching grant
funds from the Colorado Energy Office.
Project highlights:
Colorado’s first rooftop community solar project dedicated to serving low-income residents.
First Colorado municipal utility to partner with Grid Alternatives to adopt a low-income
community solar model.
The ongoing program to qualify households to participate in the shared solar array will be administered
by Fort Collins Utilities in collaboration with City Sustainability Services and the regional low income
weatherization assistance program. This project will directly reduce the energy burden of low-income
households, directing the benefit of renewable resources to this underserved segment in Fort Collins.
Project Details:
The rooftop solar array is located on a City of Fort Collins’ warehouse at 518 N. Loomis Ave. The
system deploys approximately 260 solar modules for an estimated total capacity of 64 kilowatts serving
approximately 15 to 20 qualifying households each year. Through a partnership with Larimer County’s
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) combined with a “lottery-style” selection process,
DocuSign Envelope ID: 189CB5AD-BE2A-4024-A7C4-C663601A44BD
10/27/2016
10/27/2016
10/27/2016
10/28/2016
hundreds of qualifying homes should benefit from a reduced energy burden, as participants in this low-
income program, over the life of this solar installation.
Grid Alternatives, the project developer, hosted a “Solarthon” event on October 21
st
and 22
nd
. On
Friday the 21
st
, the Governor, the Director of the Colorado Energy Office, the Mayor, and the Executive
Director of Utilities spoke to an estimated 170 visitors and volunteers.
Over the course of two days, volunteers participated in helping to assemble a substantial portion of the
array. Special thanks go to Utilities’ staff in helping organize the event and City Operations staff for
ensuring that the building roof was ready for construction in record time, as well as the completion of
other site work, in preparation for the Governor’s visit.
Grid Alternatives is a nonprofit organization that brings the benefits of solar technology to communities
for residents who would not otherwise have access. Using a barn-raising model, Grid Alternatives leads
teams of volunteers and job trainees to provide solar electricity access to low-income customers,
providing needed savings for families struggling to make ends meet; prepares workers for jobs in the
fast-growing solar industry and help to clean our environment.
The ongoing program to qualify households to participate in the shared solar array will be administered
by Fort Collins Utilities in collaboration with the regional low-income energy assistance program
(LEAP).
If you have questions, please contact John Phelan at jphelan@fcgov.com or 970-416-2539.
IMAGES:
1) Project Location – 518 N. Loomis Ave.
2) Solarthon Event
3) Volunteer construction
4) Rooftop VIPs
5) Governor Hickenlooper and solar array
DocuSign Envelope ID: 189CB5AD-BE2A-4024-A7C4-C663601A44BD
DocuSign Envelope ID: 189CB5AD-BE2A-4024-A7C4-C663601A44BD