Title
Presentation from East Bay Community Energy on a Proposed Partnership with the City of San Leandro for Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems at Various City Facilities
Body
Recommendation
Staff is recommending that the Facilities & Transportation Committee review the information and provide direction for staff to bring a resolution for consideration at the May 17, 2021 City Council meeting.
Background
Installation of solar and battery energy storage systems at critical municipal facilities is a goal of the upcoming Draft Climate Action Plan, in addition to an 'Item 14' City Council request for staff to investigate its feasibility. On a day-to-day basis, solar arrays reduce greenhouse gas emissions and battery storage allows for a shift of energy usage from peak times, thereby reducing the need for gas-fired power plants to come online to meet demand. During power outages, solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS) increase community resilience and lessen the need for diesel generators for back-up power.
In 2020, East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) was awarded a Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) grant to identify critical facilities in Alameda County and conduct preliminary assessments for back-up power from solar and battery energy storage systems at member agency sites. EBCE hired ARUP Engineering Company as a technical consultant to complete a facility screening process. Public Works staff submitted a list of critical facility sites for analysis. Each facility was scored according to four screening criteria:
* Hazard score (accounts for the range and severity of hazards faced by each site according to its location);
* Service score (ranks facilities based on number of people served in the immediate area);
* Priority Zone score (additional recognition for sites located within either Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) zones, Low Income zones, or both); and
* Solar Feasibility (high-level analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) feasibi...
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