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Story County Board approves no-cost solar option, delays larger canopy investments
Summary
After reviewing four options to meet county greenhouse gas targets, the Story County Board voted to pursue a no-capital-cost rooftop solar array using a City of Ames rebate (option one), while declining larger county-funded canopy investments pending more favorable funding or policy clarity.
The Story County Board of Supervisors voted June 9 to pursue a no-capital-cost rooftop solar array at the Human Services Center, a move the county’s Go Green team said would achieve most near-term emissions reductions without tapping county funds.
Go Green co-chairs Rebecca Beal and Aaron Reberts introduced Chris Anderson of EA Engineering, who outlined four options developed after federal funding and tax-credit timelines changed. Anderson said the USDA solar grant program "was indefinitely suspended," and that tax-credit timing had created a July 4 deadline for projects relying on tax incentives.
Board members discussed the trade-offs. Under option one — the approach the board approved — a City of Ames rebate would allow Red Lion (the private developer currently building a Justice Center array) to include the Human Services Center rooftop under the same work at no additional county capital cost; the Go Green team would scale its stated operational emissions reduction goal from 25% to 22.5% by 2030.
Chris Anderson said the alternatives would require direct county investment: a $32,000 canopy array at the Human Services Center (option two) to reach the 25% goal, or a larger $190,000 canopy at the administration building (option three) to exceed goals and provide a buffer if external partners lag. "The tax credits sunset on July 4th," Anderson said, warning that waiting would increase costs for projects that rely on those credits.
Joby, the county’s facilities management director, outlined operational and liability details and explained how private ownership under Red Lion would work. "Red Lion would own, maintain, and be responsible for any repairs or damages to that solar array," he said, describing the typical private-owner/operator model used when a county is tax-exempt.
Supervisors said the no-cost option is the prudent near-term step. One board member urged caution about spending general-fund dollars on large infrastructure amid uncertainty about property tax changes and other fiscal pressures; the board then moved and approved option one by voice vote.
The Go Green team and county staff will proceed with arrangements tied to the City of Ames rebate and report back on implementation details and any recommended future investments.
