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Story County approves vendor‑owned solar at Human Services Center, trims carbon goal to 22.5%
Summary
The Story County Board of Supervisors approved a Go Green Team recommendation to pursue a vendor‑owned, no‑capital‑cost rooftop solar array at the Human Services Center and reduced the county’s 2030 carbon‑reduction target from 25% to 22.5% (2020 baseline).
The Story County Board of Supervisors voted June 2 to pursue a vendor‑owned rooftop solar array for the county Human Services Center (HSC) and to modestly lower the county’s 2030 carbon‑reduction goal from 25% to 22.5% (baseline 2020).
Representatives of the county Go Green Team — Erin Rewerts (General Assistance) and Rebekah Beall (Conservation) — introduced consultant Christopher Anderson of EA Engineering, who told the Board that suspension of a federal solar grant program narrowed options but that a vendor‑owned, no‑capital‑cost rooftop system at the HSC remains viable because the City of Ames offers local incentives. Facilities Management Director Joby Brogden explained that under the recommended arrangement the vendor (named in the presentation as Red Line) would own and maintain the array and handle repairs, while the county would host the installation.
Supervisor Lisa Heddens moved to adopt Option 1 — reducing the target to 22.5% and authorizing pursuit of the no‑capital‑cost rooftop solar approach — and Chair Linda Murken seconded. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Why it matters: the switch preserves the county’s commitment to reducing greenhouse‑gas emissions while limiting immediate county capital outlay. County officials said the approach allows energy improvements at the HSC despite the loss of anticipated federal grant funds.
What’s next: staff were authorized to pursue the vendor agreement and report back with proposed contract terms and any required intergovernmental approvals. No timeline for construction or estimated system size was specified at the meeting.
