Committee advances emergency ordinance to build solar arrays on two former landfills to offset airport power costs

The Transportation Mobility Committee on an affirmative voice vote advanced an emergency ordinance authorizing city officials to enter contracts to build solar power facilities on two city-owned former landfills and to accept grants, tax credits and other funding to pay for the work.

City administration staff told the committee the project is part of a regional Climate Pollution Reduction grant coalition awarded in 2024 that includes the city of Cleveland, Kyoga County, and a partner municipality. The administration named two Cleveland sites: the Coltoff Road landfill just south of the airport to offset power costs at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and a West 11th and Spring Road landfill for customers of Cleveland Public Power (CPP). “The cost of the contracts would be recovered from about $15 million in grant funds and then approximately $9 million in tax credits,” the administration representative said.

Nut graf: The ordinance (62026) gives the directors of finance, public utilities and port control authority to enter design‑build and related agreements, accept grants and tax credits, and spend gift funding to construct solar arrays and on‑site native pollinator plantings on closed landfill properties. Committee members focused discussion on the project’s financing, reimbursement timing and the city entities’ ability to advance costs until grant drawdowns and credit refunds arrive.

Councilman Casey pressed how the $14.8 million in grant funds and the roughly $8.9 million in investment tax‑credit proceeds will be handled and whether the city or its enterprises must front costs. The administration said the $14.8 million will be spent on projects first and reimbursed through a monthly drawdown process managed by the grant awardee, and that the investment tax‑credit refund typically results in a refund check about six months to a year after eligible expenditures and tax filings.

Director Kaine told the committee CPP will use proceeds from sales of renewable energy credits the utility recorded in 2024 to advance its requested $3.25 million participation. He also said airlines have approved $5.7 million to be available through the terminal modernization development program for Port Control’s share. Director O'Keefe confirmed Port Control and CPP are prepared to advance funds and that monthly reimbursements will be used; he projected the tax‑credit refund to arrive roughly a year after spending and filing.

Councilman Casey secured an amendment to require that, at the end of section 10, the appropriate director provide written notice to the clerk of council whenever a purchase is made through a cooperative procurement process; the amendment was moved, seconded and carried by the committee.

The committee recorded that ordinance 62026 stands approved and will proceed to the committee of the whole for further consideration on Monday. The transcript did not include a roll‑call tally in the committee record. Next steps: staff will prepare procurement language, finalize grant subaward details with the county, and return with contract documents and a schedule for the full committee review.