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Board approves $200,000 contingency increase to address Eversource upgrades for Westside Middle School solar array
Summary
The board approved a first amendment to the All Electric rooftop-solar contract to increase owner contingency by $200,000 to cover Eversource-required electric distribution upgrades at Westside Middle School; staff said the state's DAS reimbursement reduces the city's net cost to about $42,000.
The board approved a first amendment to the district's five-school rooftop-solar contract with All Electric Construction to fund Eversource-required distribution upgrades at Westside Middle School. Robert Klee, the city's legal counsel and clean-energy advisor, said Eversource issued a contingent interconnection approval requiring replacement of the existing transformer and vault, additional wiring, installation of bollards and grounding, tree removal and relocation of two meters.
Klee told the board the contractor submitted a change-order request and the city proposed increasing the owner-controlled contingency allowance by $200,000 to cover the work; because the Office of School Construction (DAS) reimburses at approximately 78.93%, the city’s estimated net cost would be about $42,000. "This Westside solar project cannot go forward, however, without these mandatory electric distribution system upgrades," Klee said.
Commissioner Van Stone strongly objected, saying the district would pay for equipment that primarily benefits the utility and that the project’s return-on-investment is weak; proponents pointed to state grant reimbursement and long-term revenue projections. The board took the item off consent for separate consideration and, after roll-call debate, approved the amendment in a recorded vote.
