Title
Approving a budget amendment allocating $8,114 from the Energy Conservation Loan Fund for the City's 25% share of the cost of a geothermal feasibility study of the Como Zoo/Conservatory Campus
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and energy consumption over the next several years, with the goal of being carbon neutral for its own facilities by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Conservation Loan Fund was established by the Mayor and City Council in the 2008 City budget as a means of financing energy projects that support sustainable economic, social and environmental development through the implementation of energy efficient and renewable energy measures; and
WHEREAS, projects financed by the Energy Conservation Loan Fund should reduce energy consumption for City facilities, improve facility infrastructure and reduce carbon emissions, and generate measurable and significant annual energy savings; and
WHEREAS, projects should also generate measurable annual energy savings to be used to repay loans, as reviewed and approved by City Treasury; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Como Zoo and Conservatory Geothermal Feasibility Study is an option to more efficiently and sustainably heat and cool facilities on the Como Zoo campus; and
WHEREAS, the study will be conducted jointly by Sustainable Energy Systems, Inc. and Darcy Solutions via Xcel Energy’s Engineering Study Program; and
WHEREAS, the goal is to determine if proposed new geothermal technology is a financially viable solution for converting the existing steam system at the Como Zoo campus to a more energy efficient hot water system; and
WHEREAS, a positive study result would provide a path forward for a potential new heating and cooling system to benefit the public by ensuring reduced energy consumption for City facilities, improved facility infrastructure and reduced carbon emissions, and measurable and significant annual energy savings; and
WHEREAS, the total study cost is $32,456, however Xcel Energy has offered the City rebate assistance in the amount of $24,342, thereby reducing the City’s cost to $8,114; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.4 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does hereby certify that there are available for transfer of appropriation funds of $8,114 in the Energy Conservation Loan Fund; now
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, upon recommendation of the Mayor, Chief Resilience Officer, Director of Financial Services and Energy Coordinator, that $8,114 is available for transfer of appropriation in the Energy Conservation Loan Fund, as heretofore adopted and amended by this Council, the Saint Paul City Council hereby approves and amends the budget in the particulars as specified in the attached financial analysis and gratefully acknowledges the assistance of $24,342 from Xcel Energy for 75% of the cost of the study.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment