Fiscal Note
The 2018 Adopted Capital Budget includes $750,000 of GO Borrowing within Engineering-Facilities Management for the Sustainability Improvements program. The focus of the program is on implementation of the Madison Sustainability Plan via solar installations and energy efficient upgrades throughout the City. The proposed resolution authorizes a contract with RENEW Wisconsin for the development of a solar group purchasing program at an estimated cost of $32,000.
MUNIS:
11576-401-200.
Title
Funding a Residential Solar Group Buy Program in 2018.
Body
Whereas, the City of Madison has been a Solar America City since 2007, a SolSmart Gold Community since 2016 and is committed to promoting solar technology adoption at the local level;
Whereas, the City of Madison's Sustainability Plan contains a goal to achieve a 100% renewable energy and zero net carbon;
Whereas, the continued expansion of solar generation will enable the City of Madison to reduce greenhouse gas emissions community-wide and lead other municipalities by example;
Whereas, a favorable combination in 2018 of Focus on Energy renewable energy incentives, a 30% federal investment tax credit that will start to phase out in 2020, and relatively low installation costs is certain to heighten interest in rooftop solar among City of Madison residents;
Whereas, the City of Madison's Group Buy solar program, MadiSUN, has helped hundreds of businesses and thousands of residents learn more about solar energy and provided free solar site assessments to hundreds of City of Madison residents, creating a potential market;
Whereas, the successful 2016 and 2017 MadiSUN programs administered by RENEW Wisconsin enabled 70 households to install 300 kilowatts of solar energy, investing nearly $1 million into the local clean energy economy and creating jobs;
Whereas, the offer of an additional solar energy group buying opportunity in 2018 would further drive down installation costs for participants i...
Click here for full text