Auburn council split over solar in budget

While working on the details of the 2023-24 budget this week, the Auburn City Council discussed the possibility of adding more solar panels to its properties. Despite public support, the council voted in a rare 3-2 split to not set aside $500,000 in next year's budget for solar at the police station and carport. City Councilwoman Sandy Amara and City Councilman Daniel Berlant dissented the motion, favoring setting aside the money for the project. Earlier this year, the city approved a contract for providing applications for six sites to take advantage of grandfathered PG&E solar generation rates and for the addition of solar at the city's Corp Yard. To realize those grandfathered rates, the city would have to install solar at those sites within three years. To kick-start the potential savings of additional solar, Amara and Berlant asked to discuss adding solar into next year's budget. "Statistics show that within seven years of implementation, energy savings will have paid for the cost of the project," Amara said. "This is a 20-percent rate of return on our investment." Berlant said he views this move as an investment for the city. "I would support at least a discussion of allocating dollars knowing in the long run there would be savings," Berlant said. The staff report suggested the potential $480,000 project could come out of the General Fund unallocated fund balance of $8.5 million. Councilwoman Rachel Radell-Harris said while she is in favor of the city adding more solar, she wants the city to go after grant funding. She said over the next two to three years, there are a number of grants going out for clean energy. According to the staff report, when the staff looked into potential grants, they found the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. The grant wasn't solar specific, but staff "feels a nexus could be made to qualify for funding." "With that said, this is a federal program that usually requires higher staff involvement in terms of monitoring and reporting," the staff report stated. "That component should be identified, as well as if there is a required match (which is not clear at this time) of city funds to determine if there is benefit in applying for funds." Berlant pointed out the city did approve a grant writing position with the city, but 11 months later that position still needs to be filled. City Manager Sean Rabé, who served his first day Monday, said he intends to fill that position as soon as possible. Mayor Alice Dowdin Calvillo said she does not support the project because she has not seen an analysis of what the potential savings could be. "I haven't seen an economic analysis that shows what we would truly earn," she said. "We have not approved any documentation that would show the savings we would receive." Dowdin Calvillo said she also does not support the reallocation of reserve monies. Five members of the public stayed through the four-hour meeting to discuss their support for adding solar to the city. "We need to lead by example to our citizens and children to do things that make things better," said Auburn resident Laurie Rowland. Resident Paul Aronowitz said he has seen solar on his property pay for itself over and over again. "It's disappointing the council wouldn't look at this as an investment," he said. "Kicking the can down the road is a big mistake." Councilman Mike Holmes suggested putting out a request for proposal that would require a potential contractor to complete an analysis of potential savings along with plans for the construction. When it came down to a vote specifically about setting aside the funding in next year's budget, Dowdin Calvillo, Holmes and Radell-Harris all voted to not include the funds. Amara, in a follow-up interview with the Auburn Journal, said she still plans to pursue solar for the city as soon as possible.

Auburn City Council split over solar in budget