Coos Bay council approves application for $1 million state grant to add solar and batteries at City Hall to back up 9-1-1 dispatch

Coos Bay city council members voted to submit a construction grant application to the Oregon Department of Energy to install rooftop solar panels and battery storage at City Hall, a project the city says would provide roughly 10 hours of critical power for the North Coos 9‑1‑1 dispatch center. The council conducted a public hearing on the proposal and adopted Resolution 25‑28 to authorize the application.

The project would place 198 solar panels on City Hall, use three 30‑kilowatt inverters, and three 60‑kilowatt batteries, while keeping the existing generator as backup. Staff said the construction cost estimate is about $1,000,000 and the construction schedule is roughly 14 months, contingent on procurement and grant timing.

City staff described the work as the next step after the city’s prior planning‑level grant and feasibility study. Jennifer, the city staff presenter, told the council the feasibility analysis showed multiple recent multi‑hour power outages and that rooftop photovoltaic plus battery storage could improve grid reliability for critical municipal operations. "So the cost for that is $1,000,000, which actually falls just under the proposed construction grant opportunities," Jennifer said during the presentation.

The grant round announced by the Oregon Department of Energy allocates about $12 million overall, with roughly $8 million expected for construction grants and individual awards around $1 million. Staff said the city had previously been awarded a planning grant and worked with Wheldon Engineering on site feasibility. The application requires a public hearing and evidence of community engagement; staff reported an 80‑response public survey in which a majority supported the project, 23 respondents requested more information, and 11 volunteered for a short‑term construction advisory committee should the city receive funds.

At the public hearing, Janice Longlinney of the Coos Bay Visitor and Convention Bureau said she had personal experience with rooftop solar and voiced support: "We have solar panels on the roof at the visitor information center, and they make a huge difference. I applaud the city for going after this grant," she said. No other public speakers registered opposition during the hearing.

Councilor (unnamed) moved adoption of Resolution 25‑28 authorizing the grant application; the motion was seconded and approved without recorded opposition. With the resolution in place, staff will complete the grant submission with CCD and, if awarded, proceed with procurement and contract work according to the projected timeline.

Project details provided to council list the inverter and battery sizes, an estimated 10 hours of critical load support, and retention of the generator as an additional backup. Staff emphasized that the construction timeline and start depend on grant award notifications and contract awards.