Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City of Lincoln updates council on $11 million citywide solar and HVAC project and PG&E timing delays
Summary
Public works staff said the $11 million solar and HVAC investment includes parking‑lot arrays, a ground‑mount array and HVAC upgrades; panels are ordered and some equipment installed, but PG&E processing delays have pushed permitting steps.
Public works staff updated the City of Lincoln council on the citywide solar and HVAC project the council approved in 2024, telling members the program is an approximately $11 million investment intended to reduce energy costs and modernize municipal facilities.
Matthew Medill, public works director, described two work orders: Work Order 1, about $7.2 million, covers HVAC upgrades at the community center, police department and the arts building, plus parking‑lot solar arrays at city hall, community center, the courtyard and police station and a solar shade over the McBean Park pickleball courts. Work Order 2 is a roughly $3 million ground‑mount array near Flight Line Road intended to offset multiple city PG&E meters via bill credit transfer.
Staff said equipment procurement is underway: HVAC units have been installed at the community center and some units at the arts building, and solar panels have been ordered. The project includes a $500,000 contingency and a projected multi‑decade savings profile; staff described a lifecycle estimate (30+ years) and noted panels can last longer than the financing term.
Medill explained the city expedited the procurement to preserve favorable net energy aggregation treatment (net metering) before regulatory changes reduced credit values for new projects. The city used net metering aggregation where adjacent meters allow it and pursued a ground‑mount solution for larger meter offsets. He also summarized efforts to secure PG&E program incentives and distribution upgrades funding and said PG&E processing delays have pushed schedule milestones; staff expect further PG&E comments in March and are following up.
Council members asked about public EV charging and whether the city will pursue retail charging locations. Staff said grants and enterprise fund allocations are being pursued for charging at the courtyard and police station and that regional planning (PCTPA) is also studying potential public charging locations. The council heard that one public EV charging station at city hall is under consideration and that SiteLogic representative Jess attended the meeting to be available to discuss project details.
No formal council action was required; the item was presented for information and to keep the project on council’s radar.
