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Olmsted County Board accepts state solar grants, approves budget change to cash-flow projects
Summary
The Olmsted County Board approved accepting eight Minnesota Solar on Public Buildings grants and a budget amendment to cash-flow roughly $540,000–$543,000 in reserves, with the state covering about 70% and the county pursuing federal Inflation Reduction Act reimbursement for the remainder.
The Olmsted County Board voted to accept Minnesota Solar on Public Buildings grants for multiple county facilities and approved a budget change to cash-flow the projects.
Matt Miller, director of facilities and building operations, told commissioners the county "just found out this morning that we were awarded 4 more grants," bringing the number under consideration to eight. He said the county would need to use reserves to front the work — "about 540,000 in reserves" — and that the state will reimburse roughly 70 percent, while the county intends to pursue the federal Inflation Reduction Act tax-credit reimbursement for the remaining 30 percent. "The cash flow...will have to get us through probably 2027," Miller said, noting the state expects reimbursement within 30 days of submission and the federal tax credit is claimed the tax year after a project is placed in service.
Miller listed the sites covered by the awards, including three buildings at the Public Works Service Center, the new exhibition center at Grand Park (submitted though the building is not yet complete), two sites at Oxbow (the nature center and a caretaker's house) and the main office and caretaker's house at Chester Woods Park.
Commissioners asked whether the projects were already in the county's Capital Improvement Plan. Miller said some projects were included in the current CIP while others were planned for future years. He said prior IRA credits and existing county arrays have shortened estimated payback periods for earlier projects into the 7–10 year range.
A commissioner moved and the board approved a motion to accept the grants and authorize a budget change to cash-flow approximately $543,000 (motion language cited "543,000 and change"). The approval was by voice vote; the motion record does not show a roll-call tally in the transcript.
The funding approach depends on state and federal reimbursements, and commissioners noted that while the awards reduce the county's capital burden up front, the county will carry cash-flow risk until reimbursements arrive. The board signaled the grants align with the county's climate action and strategic plans and directed staff to proceed with contracting and budget adjustments.
The board moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.
