Sustainability and Energy Action Plan

BUILDINGS AND ENERGY GRANTS PASS SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY ACTION PLAN Microgrids offer resiliency, positive economics, and sustainability. A microgrid system reduces reliance on traditional energy sources, and thereby increases resiliency while reducing emissions and energy costs. The Water Restoration Plant and the Police Station are recommended as priorities for microgrids because of 1) the irreplaceable and vital services they provide which will be important in the event of an emergency, 2) their high energy usage, and 3) the feasibility of being able to generate substantial amounts of energy at these sites shown in preliminary evaluations.BE-2-1. Install a Dual -Source Microgrid at the Water Restoration Plant The new digester heat exchanger project completed in spring of 2023 at the Water Restoration Plant allows for the methane produced by the digester to be used to power the boiler in place of purchased natural gas . This step forward in sustainability will result in reduced energy costs at this site. However, by expanding on this concept, further savings may be possible. By developing a microgrid system that incorporates on -site solar generation (likely rooftop and raised solar over existing infrastructure due to land requirements) as well as any additional methane emissions from the digester, emissions could decrease even further, and the additional power generated could cover more of this facility’s sizeable energy usage. Not only would this save money, but this would also mean that in the event of any grid failings, the plant would still be able to operate at a reduced capacity without relying on external fuel sources .Project BE -2. Develop Microgrid Energy Systems (to support essential services) Microgrids are customized, small - scale, localized energy systems composed of an energy generation system and the facilities using the electricity for operations. 42