Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Middleton committee eyes McKinstry energy roadmap and urges earlier budgeting for solar
Summary
Committee staff proposed hiring McKinstry to produce a citywide energy road map (estimated around $100,000) and urged prioritizing solar projects in the water utility and golf course budgets to capture tax credits; members discussed committee advocacy versus council budget authority.
Committee staff told members they plan to press early on the 2026 city budget and proposed commissioning a professional services firm to develop an energy road map.
Kelly said McKinstry—who has worked on school projects locally—could scope a timeline, costs and tasks to meet the city’s energy goals. “I’m thinking this is an estimate I could be way off... I’m thinking it would be, like, a $100,000,” Kelly said. She described the work as a likely professional-services contract that would inform an RFP for implementation.
Members discussed using the committee’s advisory role to advocate for higher-priority sustainability projects in other departments, including accelerating planned solar installations for the water utility and the golf course to take advantage of tax credits. Several members recommended putting ambitious items into budget requests so council and the public know the committee’s priorities even if funding is not guaranteed.
Kelly said staff will bring a McKinstry scope to the committee next month to begin budget planning and to help frame RFP language if the committee and council choose to move forward.
