04-18-2014 BPU RPT 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC 0. lliil�)1 44444 11,1 RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum DATE: April 18, 2014 ITEM NO: 10 SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH GRID ALTERNATIVES FOR THE AFFORDABLE SOLAR ENERGY FOR RIVERSIDE PROGRAM — REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NO. 1423 ISSUE: The issue for Board of Public Utilities consideration is approval of a Professional Services Agreement with GRID Alternatives for the Affordable Solar Energy for Riverside (ASER) program. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities: 1. Approve a Professional Services Agreement with GRID Alternatives, of Riverside, California, for the Affordable Solar Energy for Riverside program; and 2. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Agreement. BACKGROUND: On November 5 2013, the City Council approved the ASER Program to provide solar installations on residential homes. The Program will serve to expand the City's renewable energy portfolio, reduce energy bills for low- income households and provide workforce development training through the installation of photovoltaic solar systems. The Program is designed to promote economic development by increasing home prices in low- income areas and providing education and workforce development training on the installation of solar. ASER is bringing together City departments, nonprofits and community members to innovatively eliminate the financial barriers to renewable energy acquisition. ASER will initially serve as a pilot program, providing solar installations on ten area homes, and will function as a model for other municipal utility agencies wishing to offer solar to low- income households. Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 1423 for a pilot ASER program was posted on December 12, 2013. Only one proposal was received by the due date of December 27, 2013 from GRID Alternatives. In 2009, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) created a statewide Single- family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program for investor owned utilities to increase low- income access to solar energy. GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit agency dedicated to providing solar installations for low- income households, has been administering the statewide Program and provides unparalleled experience. In only two years, 1,788 photovoltaic (PV) systems have been installed, generating 4.7 megawatts (MW) and preventing the emission of 154,999 tons of greenhouse gases.