Advisory panel urges Wilmington council to fund building efficiency upgrades, recommends excluding parking canopy solar

The Clean Energy Advisory Committee voted to draft a recommendation asking Wilmington City Council to set aside funds for energy conservation measures at Skyline Center and the Police Headquarters, but asked staff to exclude the parking‑canopy solar proposals from the initial request.

David Ingram, who presented the reports prepared by Advanced Energy (Duke Energy's vendor), said the studies focused on interior systems — lighting, mechanical systems and building automation — and identified short payback measures such as retro‑commissioning and LED upgrades. “They gave a pretty good level of detail,” Ingram said, urging the committee to review the findings and raise questions before the follow‑up meeting with Advanced Energy.

Committee president Richard Smith argued that recommissioning and replacing failed building automation controllers should be prioritized. Smith said failed JACE controllers mean the BAS cannot operate as intended and recommended replacing controllers before or as part of any recommissioning effort to realize sustained savings.

PJ Klein and other members highlighted the projects’ payback potential. Klein noted aggregate gross costs of about $875,000 across both facilities with $325,000 in incentives for a net roughly $540,000, and argued the measures could pay back in about two years in many scenarios. Committee members asked staff to confirm assumptions behind incentives, including enrollment in Duke’s SmartPath rider and the minimum enrollment window, because those factors affect payback calculations.

Rachel Schueller, director of community building, recommended the committee produce a concise “menu” of implementation options — estimated costs and expected returns — so council members can review data during ongoing budget deliberations; she noted the manager’s recommended budget had already been presented and the public hearing on the budget is scheduled the week after the committee’s meeting.

After discussion, Richard Smith moved that staff draft a letter of support for the recommended energy conservation measures (ECMs) with the explicit exception of proposed PV parking canopies. Val Jean seconded the motion; it passed by voice vote. Committee members asked staff to circulate draft language for committee review before the next council briefing.

The committee also identified next steps for staff: finalize outstanding questions for Advanced Energy (including clarifying the relative savings of tube vs. fixture replacements), confirm utility rider impacts, and prepare a short recommendation packet for council that lists options and estimated returns.

The motion and supporting materials will be recorded in the meeting minutes and circulated to staff for prompt submission to council.