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HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding Renewable Energy Systems Contract and Financing at Santa Barbara County Betteravia Campus, Fifth District, as follows: (EST. TIME: 15 MIN.)
a) Find, in accordance with Government Code Section 4217.12, that the anticipated cost to the County for electrical energy provided by the Energy Service Contract will be less than the anticipated marginal cost to the County of electrical, or other energy that would have been consumed in the absence of the Contract; that the terms of the Energy Services Contract are in the best interests of the County, and that no facility ground lease will be required;
b) Award, and authorize the Chair to execute an Energy Service Contract with Endelos Energy (a local vendor) in the amount of $4,336,751.00 for final design, construction and startup of renewable energy systems, energy conservation measures, and equipment upgrades at the Betteravia Campus (Santa Maria);
c) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute an On-Bill Financing Loan Agreement, in a form substantially similar to the sample agreement, for an On Bill 0% Financing Loan from PG&E in the amount of $614,221.00 with a 10-year term to fund the energy efficient lighting upgrades;
d) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute a loan agreement and promissory note, in a form substantially similar to the agreement and note, and related documents for an Energy Efficiency 1% interest loan with a 15-year term from the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission for the Betteravia Campus renewable energy project in the amount of $2,122,530.00; and
e) Determine that the renewable energy project is statutorily exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 21080.35 (installing solar systems on existing roofs and existing parking lots), and that it is further categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA per Sections 15301 (minor alterations to existing facilities) and 15303 (limited construction of small facilities) and 15304 (minor alterations to land) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption on that basis.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE