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 res...
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