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Schneider presents $13.55 million Harlingen facilities upgrade, promises $5 million in energy savings over 20 years
Summary
At a Harlingen City Commission workshop, Schneider Electric outlined a $13.55 million plan focused on HVAC, building controls, lighting and field lights, saying the comprehensive project could yield roughly $180,000 a year and about $5 million in guaranteed savings over 20 years; commissioners discussed financing options.
Schneider Electric representatives presented a 60% design update to the Harlingen City Commission on a proposed $13,550,000 comprehensive facilities and energy-efficiency project and described financing paths intended to tie project costs to guaranteed savings.
Aaron Garcia, a Schneider representative, opened the presentation and said the project bundles five prioritized components — HVAC, building automation, lighting, building envelope and field lighting — to address years of deferred maintenance across municipal buildings and parks. "We've estimated right now about $5,000,000 in guaranteed savings over a 20 year period," Garcia said, and Schneider presented an annual savings estimate of about $180,000.
Ryan Wonder, introduced by Garcia as Schneider's project development engineer, reviewed the priority list and cost roll-ups: "HVAC being top priority, building automation system, 2nd, lighting, 3rd, building envelope, 4th, and the field lighting, 5th," he said. Wonder emphasized that the HVAC portion is the largest element and noted many rooftop and packaged units are approaching 20 years of service life.
Wonder said the project's roll-up summary shows a total of $13,550,000. Garcia told commissioners Schneider had received a letter of interest from Capital One offering to finance the project and said banks are willing to compete for the work; "Capital 1 has given a letter of interest to the city already," Garcia said, adding the example rate cited was "about" 4.5 percent and that the city could alternatively work with its financial adviser or issue an RFP to lenders.
Commissioner Mesmer, who described himself as a money manager, urged urgency and a short-term borrowing approach. "I manage money for a living. I tell my clients collect interest, don't pay it," Mesmer said, arguing for a four-year note and a mix of borrowing and fund-balance drawdown to limit interest exposure.
Commissioners pressed on scope details. Garcia and Wonder said exterior fixtures on municipal properties — such as parking-lot lights, wall packs, small downtown-park pavilion lights and concession-area fixtures — are included, while noting that streetlights are generally owned by AEP and would not be replaced by this project unless the city and utility agree. Wonder offered to assess small trail lights at Wilson Sports Complex after staff reported some fixtures previously believed to be AEP-owned may actually be city property.
The commissioners also discussed whether specific items — notably Fire Station No. 1 — should stay in the package if replacement of the station proceeds. Wonder said building replacement plans could remove that line item from the project and change the savings calculation.
Schneider said the team would return with a 90% design in about 30–60 days and a firm fixed price to bring before the commission. No formal motion or vote was taken at the workshop; commissioners instructed staff to involve Hilltop and the city financial adviser in budget and financing discussions as the item moves forward.
The workshop closed with agreement to continue refining the priority list, verify which park fixtures are city-owned, and reconvene with a 90% presentation before advancing to construction.
