Sustainability and Energy Action Plan

BUILDINGS AND ENERGY GRANTS PASS SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY ACTION PLAN BE-2-3. Install a Microgrid System at PD The Police Department building provides crucial emergency services 24 hours/day, seven days/week, and is one of the City’s most energy intensive buildings.36 A 60-panel solar array was installed over a parking shade structure when the building was renovated to accommodate the Police Department in late 2019 - an initial step toward developing a microgrid. These existing panels are producing 2,715 kWh of electricity a month on average (32,578 kWh a year), equivalent to an annual savings of about $3,584.37 The Police Department is eager to expand on this investment and further reduce its energy costs .To provide further energy savings and resilience in the event of a natural disaster, this Plan recommends expanding the solar array into a microgrid system. This process would include the installation of battery storage (for which space could be found outside somewhere on the current lot or on the property next door which is being demolished), and installation of additional solar panels, not just on the remainder of the existing shade structure, but also potentially on the roof of the building (pending structural feasibility), and over the remainder of the parking lot.BE-2-2. Monitor Feasibility of Micro Hydropower Generators in the Water Restoration Plant Infrastructure Micro hydroelectric power has great potential for future installation at the Water Restoration Plant given the high volumes and consistent rates of water flowing through the plant. As micro hydropower generation technologies improve, the feasibility and pay - off of such an installation may increase. BE-2-4. Explore Feasibility of Expanding a PD microgrid by Incorporating Nearby Property The central location of the Police Department building opens possibilities for the expansion of a PD microgrid. Nearby Existing solar panels save over $3,584 annually38 Micro hydroelectric power refers to small-scale hydroelectric systems. These can, for example, capture the energy of water flowing through a pipe. 43