Board directs staff to pursue solar-plus-battery PPA for justice center; larger admin canopy contingent on USDA grant

The Story County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 directed county staff to work with a solar developer and county counsel to pursue a solar-plus‑battery power‑purchase agreement (PPA) that would put batteries at both the administration building and the justice center and install solar at the justice center immediately, with a larger canopy installation at the administration building contingent on a USDA grant application.

Joby introduced Terry Dvorak of the developer that installed a ground‑mounted solar array at Dakins Lake. Terry said the recommended near‑term scope is batteries at both facilities and solar at the justice center; if a USDA grant is awarded the project would add canopy solar at the administration building. Terry said the developer would take the financial risk on production and repair, carry insurance for wind and hail, and typically handle repairs after weather events. He described a proposed 20‑year PPA starting at a contracted per‑kilowatt price (quoted in the briefing as 5¢) with a 2.5% annual escalation; at contract end the county could extend the agreement, buy the system at fair market value, or require removal of equipment.

Terry said the justice‑center solar and batteries could be built this year and that completing construction under the schedule in the federal tax‑credit and grant windows was important. He described timeline constraints: interconnection with Alliant Energy can take roughly three months, battery lead times are about six months, and USDA program rules and tax credits were changing. The developer proposed applying for a USDA grant in early October; if the grant is not awarded, the administration‑building canopy would not proceed but batteries and justice center solar would.

Board members raised siting and risk questions, including the need to avoid well fields, vandalism mitigation (fencing was discussed) and who would hold insurance and liability. Terry said panels and racking in the proposal are U.S.‑assembled or U.S.‑made (inverters made in Illinois; panels assembled in Georgia) but batteries in the proposal are manufactured in China. Supervisors directed staff to work with legal counsel and the developer to draft an agreement and pursue the USDA application.