Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Renewable Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Livermore approves revised 25‑year solar and battery PPA with Ava Community Energy for two city facilities
Summary
After a private financier withdrew from a larger portfolio, the council authorized a revised 25‑year power purchase agreement with Ava Community Energy to install rooftop solar and battery storage at the Civic Center Meeting Hall and the maintenance service center, with no upfront capital cost to the city and anticipated energy cost savings over the contract term.
City Sustainability Program Manager Tricia Panto told the council that a previously authorized portfolio plan involving five sites had been reduced after a private investor named Greenbridge withdrew because federal‑level actions created financing uncertainty. Under the revised proposal Ava Community Energy will finance, install, own and operate rooftop solar and battery systems at two Livermore facilities: the Civic Center Meeting Hall and the Maintenance Service Center.
Panto described the structure as a 25‑year power purchase agreement with no upfront capital cost to the city; Ava will own and maintain the systems and the city will make monthly payments for energy generated and stored in the batteries. "Energy cost will be slightly less than we would pay for electric grid electricity without the project," Panto said, adding that the city will not realize the larger savings that the original five‑site portfolio might have delivered but that the revised project still yields savings over the 25‑year term.
The staff report referenced contract rates (the report cites about 23.5¢ per kilowatt hour for some billing components and about 21¢ per kilowatt hour for solar generation in the draft), and staff said the projects rely on achieving grandfathered status under the state's net metering rules (NEM2) to preserve favorable pricing. Public commenter Alan Marling expressed support for the project and for more visible solar installations in Livermore. A representative from Ava said the company's board had authorized the revised structure and that moving forward with two feasible sites provided a way to keep the city's projects on track.
Council asked staff whether the project will save money; staff replied that while rates vary by time‑of‑use and delivery charges, the city expects savings over the 25‑year contract. The council voted to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented.
What happens next: the city manager will execute the PPA and staff will proceed with project implementation and coordination with Ava Community Energy to meet grandfathering timelines under NEM2.
