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Board approves roughly $1.2 million change order for county solar installations at nine sites
Summary
County staff won board approval for a roughly $1.2 million change order to complete solar installations across nine county-owned sites, raising the project total to about $25 million while preserving projected long-term savings and eligibility for federal and state reimbursement.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 13 to approve an additional change order of about $1.2 million for ongoing solar installations at nine county-owned properties.
Josh Bronco, senior deputy county administrator assigned to capital projects, told the board the work originally budgeted in 2023 was estimated at $28.5 million. Contracts for steel fabrication and electrical work were awarded in 2024 for about $19.8 million, with another roughly $3.6 million set aside for solar panels and design, bringing the project budget to roughly $23.3 million. With the newly approved change order, Bronco said the total project cost is now expected to be approximately $25 million.
Bronco said the additional funds address greater-than-expected steel and welding needs to meet seismic-code requirements. He told the board most sites are complete and the county expects interconnection and permission-to-operate milestones by March 2026 to secure a near-retail reimbursement rate for exported energy; beyond that date, the compensation formula will shift and lower reimbursement. The county projects roughly $125 million in avoided utility costs over the next 25 years, including about $121.8 million in avoided PG&E bill costs and roughly $3.5 million in credits from selling excess solar power.
Board members asked how reimbursement flows back into county accounts; staff said funds will return to the county’s energy fund to support future projects. Bronco also said the county expects to be eligible to recover about 40–50% of construction costs under the Inflation Reduction Act, with reimbursements arriving in fiscal years 2026–27.
Motion and vote: A motion to approve the change order passed on a 5–0 vote.
Practical effect: The board authorized the additional spending within the project’s energy fund; staff said there is no impact on the general fund and appropriation exists within the energy budget.
