Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Partners Achieving Community Transformation in support of the Impact Solar pilot.
The Impact Solar- PACT Residential Pilot is bringing low-cost rooftop solar to ten homeowners in the Near East Side neighborhood. The Program was designed and is being implemented by Community Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Ventures (a nonprofit of the Columbus Partnership), and the nonprofit Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) for ten (10) income eligible homeowners on the Near East Side of Columbus. The program is piloting solar for income eligible homeowners using a PPA model that allows the homeowners to receive free installation of solar and a reduced price on their energy for six years, after which they receive ownership of the system and the power it generates at no cost. The pilot program has received funding from Fifth Third Bank and the Columbus Region Green Fund but has a small gap remaining to complete the 10th installation.
The requested funds are for project costs only, material and labor, to install a solar facility on an income eligible home on the Near East Side. Nine of the 10 homes have received their solar and one final family still remains from the initial families that signed up for the pilot program. The requested grant will allow the cost of the energy to reduce even further for the homeowner increasing their electricity savings. The success of the program is measured in solar kw installed in the community, jobs created, CO2 offset and reduced electricity costs for East side neighbors.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any further delays in the progress of the project. Awaiting standard effectiveness means that the project may extend into months of inclement weather, this further jeopardizing project completion.
Fiscal Impact: Funds are available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with Partners Achieving Community Transformation in support of the Impact Solar pilot; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($10,853.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Impact Solar- PACT Residential Pilot is bringing low-cost rooftop solar to ten homeowners in the Near East Side neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, nine of the ten homes have received their solar and one final family still remains from the initial families that signed up for the pilot program; and
WHEREAS, the requested grant will allow the cost of the energy to reduce even further for the homeowner increasing their electricity savings; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of City Council in that it is necessary to immediately authorize this grant agreement, as further delay would risk the project entering into months with inclement weather hindering installation, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Partners Achieving Community Transformation in support of the Impact Solar pilot.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,853.00 to Columbus City Council in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $10,853.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That funds shall be paid in advance to Partners Achieving Community Transformation in order for the organization to have the resources necessary for the successful completion of the pilot.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 6. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.