Title
Approving a budget amendment allocating $27,550 for a geothermal feasibility study at the Como Hamline Avenue campus.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan adopted in December 2019 established the goal of making municipal operations carbon neutral by 2030; and
WHEREAS, achieving carbon neutrality in municipal operations will require that the city examine a range of opportunities for electrifying heating and cooling systems and expanding the use of renewable energy across its building portfolio; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul commissioned a geothermal feasibility study for the Como Zoo campus in 2020 that was completed by Sustainable Energy Systems, Inc. with technical support from Darcy Solutions and financial support from Xcel Energy; and
WHEREAS, the Como Zoo Geothermal Feasibility Study identified significant opportunities for energy and emissions reductions at that campus, so the city is now interested in investigating HVAC decarbonization opportunities at the nearby Como Hamline Avenue campus via a similar study; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul requested a proposal from Sustainable Energy Solutions, Inc., pursuant to terms and conditions of master Contract #4487 for HVAC Systems Consulting Services; to conduct the geothermal study at the Como Hamline Avenue campus and was quoted a total cost of $27,550; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul submitted an application in January 2024 to Xcel Energy’s Engineering Study program and received a letter on February 9, 2024, indicating pre-approval for a $27,550 Xcel rebate to cover 100% of the cost for the geothermal feasibility study on a reimbursement basis; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Services-Real Estate Section proposes to temporarily finance the project through the Energy Initiatives Coordinator budget and will follow the required steps to receive a full reimbursement from Xcel Energy after completion of the study; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does certify that there are available for appropriation, funds of $27,550 in excess of those estimated in the 2024 Budget; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the Saint Paul City Council, upon recommendation of the Mayor, that the 2024 Operating Budget, as heretofore adopted by the City Council, is hereby further amended in the particulars as indicated in the attached Financial Analysis, to finance the Como Hamline Campus geothermal feasibility study.
See attached Financial Analysis.