CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Adopt the resolution approving a Generation Siting and Operating Agreement between the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and the City of Naperville at the Springbrook Water Reclamation Facility located at 3712 Plainfield-Naperville Road for a one-megawatt solar array.
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DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility
SUBMITTED BY: Lucy Podlesny, Deputy Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
NA
BACKGROUND:
The city purchases its electric power for its publicly owned municipal electric utility from the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency (IMEA), a not-for-profit joint action agency that works to provide power supply and other related utility services to 32 municipal electric utilities. On May 30, 2018 the city applied to be a host site at its Springbrook Water Reclamation Facility (Springbrook) for the IMEA’s one megawatt solar array. The solar site would consist of more than 3,500 high-efficiency solar panels installed on steel, ground-mounted, fixed-tilt racks covering about six (6) acres. The new solar array, in partnership with IMEA, would provide opportunities to showcase a project that emphasizes the city’s continued commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. On February 21, 2019, the city was notified that its site was selected with the next step being to execute a life-of-project siting agreement.
DISCUSSION:
This project is expected to produce more than 1.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough to power approximately 145 homes annually, and will be fed into the city’s distribution system. In addition to the year-round environmental benefits of this project, the power generated by the solar panels peaks at the same time as the city’s summer load. This will offset the peak cost of electricity for the IMEA and thus the city.
The IMEA is committed to investing in a clean energy future, so they are working diligently to diversify their portfolio by continuing to add renewable generation resources. In addition to our city, the IMEA will be investing in new utility solar projects in Rock Falls and Altamont. Currently, the IMEA has two existing utility solar projects in Rantoul and St. Charles. The IMEA will commission the solar facility, which will be built and operated by Sol Systems. The capital expense of the project will be funded by Sol Systems, and they will sell the power to the IMEA under a twenty-year power-purchase agreement. There is no direct cost incurred by the city for the cost of its operation and maintenance. The city will be responsible for the initial interconnection of the array to the electrical distribution system at Springbrook.
In addition, city personnel will gain valuable experience integrating a utility-scale solar resource into the operation of its distribution system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Fiscal Impact: EU06 - Underground Transmission and Distribution Costs related to providing access to the solar farm is estimated to be $150,000. The costs incurred will be for internal labor and materials. In the 2019 budget, $1,000,000 is allocated for EU06 - Underground Transmission and Distribution. Some of these funds will be allocated to the Solar Farm Project.