Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes a sole source contract with RENEW Wisconsin, Inc. to administer MadiSUN solar programs for residential, business, nonprofit and affordable housing solar installations. The multi-year contract covers program activities for the period of calendar years 2021 - 2023. The 2021 contract amount is $125,000 and funding is available in the Sustainability Improvements capital project (Munis #13135). Funding for 2022 and 2023 is subject to appropriations in subsequent budgets.
Title
A Resolution authorizing a sole source contract authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a service contract with RENEW Wisconsin, Inc. to administer the three annual MadiSUN solar programs for residential, business, nonprofit and affordable housing solar installations, through 2023.
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; and,
WHEREAS, in March of 2017, the Common Council adopted RES-17-00213 which called on the City to establish a goal for City of Madison operations and community to reach a goal of 100% renewable energy and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions; and,
WHEREAS, the City has invested in the MadiSUN programs since 2016 to make it easier and more affordable to install solar energy; and,
WHEREAS, the City has contracted with RENEW Wisconsin to administer MadiSUN since 2016; and,
WHEREAS, MadiSUN is comprised of the following programs:
1. Residential Group Buy program which offers homeowners a negotiated price for solar, a vetted solar installer, as well as, education, guidance and technical support throughout the process. Initiated in 2016, the program has enabled 174 households to install over 800 kilowatts of solar energy, generating $2.8 million in local clean energy investments.
2. Business Grant, which encourages businesses to install solar by offering a pool of $30,000 of solar rebates for local businesses. Since 2018, the Business Rebate has helped 13 businesses install 613.1 kilowatts of solar energy, generating $1.37 million in local clean energy investments.
3. The Backyard Solar Grant provides funds to nonprofit organizations and affordable housing developments to address inequitable access to solar energy. Since the program launch in 2019, grants have been awarded to install 550 kilowatts of solar energy, generating $1.013 million in local clean energy investments; and,
WHEREAS, these programs are administered on an annual basis and the City wishes to continue the contractual relationship with RENEW to administer these programs for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 calendar years, and wishes to reaffirm a multi-year contract to allow for more seamless administration of each year’s program; and,
WHEREAS, for 2021, RENEW has proposed a total contract price of $125,000.00 which includes funding for all three programs, as well as, grants and rebates to purchase and install solar equipment, performing various services to obtain better pricing for program participants, educating and recruiting participants and related administrative services; and,
WHEREAS, under MGO 4.26(4) a contract for purchase of services of more than $50,000 that was not competitively selected must be approved by the Common Council and, for the reasons given in the attached Noncompetitive Selection Form, this contract meets the exception in MGO 4.26(4)(a) 2. & 7. for a particular consultant who has provided services to the City on a similar or continuing project in the recent past. It would be economical to the City on the basis of time and money to retain the same consultant, and the service is available from only one firm; and,
WHEREAS, RENEW pays out the rebates and grants to participants after completion of the solar installations and due to the timing of construction projects and solar installations, this may be after the end of the calendar year. For City budget purposes it is preferable for the City to pay RENEW during the budget year for which the funds are approved. A multi-year contract keeps RENEW in a contractual relationship with the City past the end of the calendar year, while the terms of the Contract will provide a schedule of payment that complies with the City’s required budgeting and accounting practices.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign a service contract with RENEW Wisconsin, Inc. for the purposes and at the price set forth above, and subject to funding being appropriated as needed for 2022 and 2023. The multi-year contract will have an end date of December 31, 2024 to allow for funds to be distributed for any solar projects from the previous contract year that are not completed within the first year of the contract.