Arapahoe County staff recommend rooftop solar, oppose efficiency package
County staff recommend a four-site rooftop solar project and dropping the proposed efficiency package. Commissioners supported exploring funding and other solar options, but did not approve them.
Published at
Arapahoe County facilities staff continue to recommend rooftop solar at four county facilities and dropping a separate energy-efficiency package from Willdan. At a Nov. 2 study session, commissioners supported exploring a proposed $3.5 million fund-balance supplemental for the solar project, but did not vote on the funding, according to the public meeting recording.
The rooftop proposal covers Courthouse I, Courthouse II, the Sheriff’s Office and CentrePoint. The county staff report estimates the project would cost no more than $3.5 million; an accompanying project table lists a rooftop-only estimate of $3,318,975. The administration building and fairgrounds are not part of the current rooftop proposal.
Commissioners also asked staff to examine ground-mounted or canopy solar alternatives, particularly at the administration building. Staff raised options at the administration building and fairgrounds; canopy structures, including solar panels over parking areas, were also discussed. Exploring these alternatives was not approval to build them.
Staff recommend against Willdan’s Phase 2 efficiency package, saying it would not address major deferred-maintenance needs such as roofs, building envelopes and full heating and cooling system replacements. In the 15-year base package, annual debt service of $214,828 would exceed initial annual utility savings of $150,454, staff said. Electric-vehicle charging accounts for 57% of the package’s installed cost but has no modeled utility savings. Staff say capital would be better directed to urgent facility repairs.
The Board approved advancing solar work in June and authorized a $393,674 advance payment for materials and further engineering. That action did not approve the proposed $3.5 million allocation or project implementation. At the Nov. 2 study session, staff proposed using fund balance through a budget supplemental to fund the solar project; commissioners’ support for exploring that approach did not constitute formal funding approval.