04-05-2013 BPU RPT 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

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W A T E R E N E 8 G V t S F F Rr ERSIDE PUBLIC U'TILI'TIES Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: April 5, 2013 ITEM NO: 8 §UBJE THE CREATION OF THE AFFORDABLE SOLAR ENERGY FOR RIVERSIDE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOODS DIVISION OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT — SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE The item for Board of Public Utilities consideration is approval of the creation of the Affordable Solar Energy for Riverside (ASER) program to be provided in partnership by Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) and the Community development Department Housing and Neighborhoods Division. REC END IONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: 1. Approve the Affordable Solar Energy for Riverside program; 2. Authorize a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $10,916 from the Electric Fund reserve, as generated by the Green Power Premium program, to the Affordable Solar Energy for the Riverside program Account No. 6020100-456086; 3. Authorize the City Attorney's Office to prepare the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Public Utilities Department for the allocated amount; 4. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the MOU, including making minor, non- substantive changes, and to sign all documents and instruments necessary to implement this action; and 5. Authorize the Finance Director/Treasurer to accept reimbursement for funds up to $35,000 deposited to the Public Benefit Fund (511)from the CDBG Fund(220). BACMRQUND: RPU is committed to a Clean and Green Riverside. Over the past several years, solar installations have drastically increased in the City; solar is a clean, renewable energy source which, when hamessed, can dramatically reduce the utility bills and carbon footprint of those who install it. For low-income households, however, the acquisition of photovoltaic(PV) systems may require a substantial investment that they simply cannot afford, despite the benefits that solar could provide. Single-Fam8yANbrdable Solar Homes In 2009, the statewide Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program was created by the Califomia Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to increase low-income access to solar. SASH was developed as part of the Califomia Solar Initiative (CSI), with 5% of CSI funds ($108 million) set aside to subsidize PV installations on the homes of low4ncome residential customers served by investor-owned utilities (IOUs). The CPUC issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting potential administrators for SASH and eventually chose GRID Alternatives, a small nonprofit agency dedicated to providing solar