BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Rate Agreement with the Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority for Participation in Westlands Solar Park Project.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate, and after making the necessary CEQA responsible agency findings, execute a 20-year Rate Agreement with the Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority (PWRPA) for the purchase of solar power from the Westlands Solar Park Project;
B. Receive a report on results from PWRPA-SCVWD Solar Generation RFP Phase II; and
C. Provide direction to staff for local solar development.
Body
SUMMARY:
During the December 19, 2017 Board of Director's meeting, staff reported the solicitation by the Power and Water Resources Pooling Authority (PWRPA) to participate in the 200MW Westlands Solar Park Project (Project), a utility-scale solar project located in Westlands' Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) as designated by the California Energy Commission. Per direction from the Board, staff proceeded with pricing negotiations and contract development for the Project, and continued to evaluate district facilities for opportunities to develop additional local solar projects. The Project developer had prepared an EIR to evaluate the environmental impacts of the project and the CEQA document was certified on January 16, 2018.
Westlands Utility-Scale Solar Development
Through Project negotiation, the District has secured a 1.5MW allocation of the solar development and will receive the carbon-free, renewable energy generated by the allocation for a price less than $41 / megawatt-hour (MWh) with 0% annual rate escalator through a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Including transmission and distribution charges to transport the power, the estimated price of energy delivered to district facilities is expected to be less than $66-71 / MWh.
Participation in the Project through PWRPA would secure low-cost renewable power for use...
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