Lincoln to build solar panel structures

Lincoln is in for a solar panel makeover at multiple notable locations throughout the city, according to a presentation at the March 12 city council meeting. The city's Public Works department has begun collaboration with U.S.-owned renewable energy company SitelogIQ, which delivers "world-class energy, water, renewable and infrastructure programs for State and Local Governments," according to SitelogIQ Government Relations Specialist Jessica Ritter. SitelogIQ has more than 400 employees and has constructed $5 billion in projects. "What we really want to do tonight is introduce you to the designs, the sizes, where they're going to go," said Ritter. "We've definitely vetted out the sizes, the locations, the orientations of the panels, but we would always welcome your feedback. It is going into your city after all." Solar panel structures are planned at multiple sites, as opposed to rooftop solar panels. According to Ritter, "There's a couple of reasons why we don't go on the roof. One, we need more panels than what the roof has space for, so even if we put some panels on the roof, we'd probably need some on a carport anyways to supplement that. But, another big reason is that the roofs need to be replaced and repaired. When you have to replace and repair the roof with solar panels, it's a bear." Solar panel structures are planned for the City Hall and Community Center parking lots. The structures would provide shade for parking and may include EV charging spots in the future. "There's lots of things we can do as far as painting the columns; they don't have to look like steel. There's ways to make these prettier, but we can talk about that a little later," Ritter said. A solar panel structure is also planned for McBean Park's pickleball courts, which will provide shade and night lighting over the court. "Our team took a lot of time on this design and we are really stoked about how this is going to turn out," said Ritter. "This really cool barn-style design is going to provide a huge benefit for your pickleball players, and I can foresee some pickleball tournaments happening here." A solar panel structure at the Corporation Yard won't be visible to the public, however, Ritter says it is necessary since the yard is a high-energy user, "so we have designed these arrays to offset as much usage as we can right here." A solar panel structure is planned for the Police Department parking lot, which like the others, may provide EV charging in the future. However, Vice Mayor Holly Andreatta said the city has been planning to move the police department, therefore she inquired if it would be a waste of money. Public Works Director Matthew Medill said the site would still have value in the future, whether it be sold or if it became a substation or EV charging station. The Airport RES-BCT area's solar panels are "designed to offset multiple meters throughout the city where we can't build solar directly on site," said Ritter. "We prefer to build solar and directly interconnect to the meter where the usage is, but we don't always have that option." According to Medill, "The city of Lincoln and the Public Works Department are continually finding cost-saving measures and efficiency measures. Before my arrival, the city had already engaged a company, Eco Green Solutions, and had commenced three LED streetlight retrofit projects for energy savings in finding more efficient light fixtures." Medill said they have spent the last year working to "identify additional ways to save money" by engaging "several energy services companies, looking at HVAC solutions, and looking at lighting solutions." They determined solar generation was the missing piece. LogIQ also identified HVAC replacements needed, including four in the Police Department, eight in the Community Center and two in the Arts Building across from City Hall. SitelogIQ provides a 90-percent performance guarantee for its projects. According to Ritter, "Part of having a performance guarantee is we're on the hook, so if something goes wrong with the solar array, if an inverter goes down, we're going to know about it probably before you do and it's going to be in our best interest to run a truck out here really quick and get it fixed so that your panels are going to produce what we say they're going to produce so we don't have to write you a check at the end of the year if there's a deficit." The project is estimated to cost $10.7 million and provide $26.4 million in 30-year net savings. The financials of the project will be addressed in more detail at the April 9 meeting. SitelogIQ is in the final program development stage and plans to work with Financial Director Nita Wracker. Medill said the project is necessary due to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) implementing the Advanced Clean Fleet regulation, which requires all heavy-and medium-duty vehicle fleets to be 50 percent energy-efficient vehicles by 2024 and 100 percent by 2027. Councilmember Paul Joiner questioned the practicality of the state's goal for 2027, "But we need to be moving in the right direction in the eventuality that the mandate holds, so I'm supportive." The rise in Lincoln residents' utility costs last year was also a factor in interest in the project. Councilmember Ben Brown said, "We knew about the utilities accounts being in trouble for a little while and when we were looking at any ways we could have savings with LED lights and things like that as well, I'm pretty sure that's one of the reasons we ended up looking through this too because in the long run, it will end up saving all of our community members a lot of money as well."