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Ojai selects Climate Tech to audit electrification needs for city facilities; staff says upgrades likely funded by grants
Summary
City staff recommended—and council approved—awarding a design-build assessment to Climate Tech to audit energy use at all city facilities and pursue grant and rebate funding for electrification, with no initial cost to the city and phased implementation subject to later council approval.
The Ojai City Council approved moving ahead with a Climate Tech contract to perform an audit-grade assessment of electrification opportunities at all city-owned facilities and to pursue external funding for implementation.
Public Works and staff said the work will be carried out in phases: a utility and on-site facilities assessment followed by a recommendation and a funding plan. The initial phase incurs no direct cost to the city; Climate Tech will participate in grant and rebate pursuit and be compensated later if the project moves into construction.
Public Works Director Jackie Palmer and other staff briefed council on the scope and timeline: an initial kickoff this month, a utility analysis expected in July that depends on Southern California Edison and SoCalGas data, presentation of recommended facility projects in August, and a final scope and funding plan by September–October. Staff estimated project implementation could begin about 12 months after contract start and include microgrids, HVAC, lighting, solar and irrigation efficiency projects; the vendor will provide measurement and verification after work is done.
Council asked whether aspects of the audit were already covered by earlier regional programs. Palmer said the city had engaged SoCalREN and Clean Power Alliance, but none had completed a comprehensive assessment; the Climate Tech approach aims to identify larger, grant-ready projects. Council also noted an existing $250,000 award from Clean Power Alliance targeted to a specific campus and staff said CPA funding would be applied to improvements at that campus when projects are ready.
Council approved the item on the consent calendar after public comment and questions from council members about insulation checks, grant pursuit and staff capacity. Staff said each actual construction or modification project will return to council for separate approval.
