HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-110 (Solar Garden Subscription Agreement Geronimo Energy, BHE Renewables) RESOLUTION NO. 2016-110
RESOLUTION APPROVING SOLAR GARDEN SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN
GERONIMO ENERGY, LLC, BHE RENEWABLES, LLC AND THE CITY OF STILLWATER
WHEREAS, in 2013, the Minnesota State Legislature directed Xcel Energy to create a
program for community solar gardens; and
WHEREAS,a community solar garden is a centralized shared solar project connected
to the energy grid that has multiple subscribers and each subscriber receives a credit on their
Xcel energy bill based upon the production of the solar facility and their subscription share
of that facility; and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater believes that there is societal, financial and
environmental value in participating in community solar gardens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater agreed to participate in the Metropolitan Council's
"Request for Proposals for Community Solar Garden Subscription Agreements" process in
July of 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City provided the Metropolitan Council with an estimate of 336,000
kWh of electric energy (approximately 5% of the City's total annual electric energy usage)
that the City intends to subscribe to the community solar garden; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council RFP process resulted in five companies that
were awarded contracts to provide solar garden projects to participating communities
through a lottery process; and
WHEREAS,the Metropolitan Council negotiated a standard solar garden subscription
agreement with all five companies allowing each community to enter into an agreement with
the solar garden company selected via the lottery process; and
WHEREAS,through the Metropolitan Council lottery process, Geronimo Energy,LLC,
on behalf of BHE Renewables, LLC, was selected as the solar garden provider for the City of
Stillwater; and
WHEREAS, Geronimo Energy and BHE Renewables propose to provide the City of
Stillwater with a 25 year solar garden subscription to 503,700 kWh of electric energy
consumption equaling approximately 7.5% of the City's total annual electric energy usage
resulting in an energy savings of approximately $5000 the first year and a 25 year energy
savings of over$118,000 through the Xcel Energy electric bill credit.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Stillwater
hereby approves the Solar Garden Subscription Agreement between the City of Stillwater
and Geronimo Energy, LLC,and BHE Renewables, LLC as hereby attached,and authorizes the
Mayor of the City of Stillwater to sign all necessary documents on behalf of the City of
Stillwater.
Enacted by the City Council of the City of Stillwater, Minnesota this 17th day of May 2016.
CITY OF STILLWATER
Z•41*(2
Ted Kozlowski, Mayor
ATTEST:
Diane F. Ward, City Clerk