Arapahoe County staff recommend rooftop solar, oppose efficiency package
Staff want commissioners to reserve up to $3.5 million for solar at four county buildings. The Board was scheduled to discuss next steps Nov. 2.
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Arapahoe County facilities staff are asking commissioners to reserve up to $3.5 million for rooftop solar at four county buildings and recommend against a separate energy-efficiency package from Willdan, citing deferred maintenance and costs that exceed initial utility savings. Neither recommendation had been approved as of Oct. 30, according to the county staff report.
The solar proposal covers Courthouse I, Courthouse II, the Sheriff’s Office and CentrePoint. The staff report estimates the project would cost no more than $3.5 million; a detailed project table lists a rooftop-only estimate of $3,318,975.
Staff recommend against Willdan’s Phase 2 package because it would not address major deferred-maintenance needs, including 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 the solar work in June and authorized a $393,674 advance payment for materials and further engineering. That earlier action did not approve the new $3.5 million allocation or implementation. The Nov. 2 study-session agenda scheduled discussion of recommended next steps for Energy Performance Contract No. 3 at 1:30 p.m.; it did not list a vote.