Solar Power Project at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater

Solar Power Project at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Informational Meeting August 2015

Regional San Staff Here Today • Steve Nebozuk, Senior Civil Engineer • Bryan Young, Natural Resource Supervisor • Claudia Goss, Public Affairs • Lee. Ann Salerno, Public Affairs

Who is Regional San? • Provides wastewater conveyance and treatment services to residential, commercial and industrial customers • Began providing wastewater treatment service to the region in 1982 • Serves unincorporated Sacramento County; cities of Elk Grove, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento, West Sacramento; and communities of Walnut Grove and Courtland

SRWTP

An independent public agency • Regional San is governed by a 17 -member Board of Directors comprised of elected representatives from County and cities in its service area • We rely solely on customer rates and fees to fund our operations • Customers (single family residence) currently pay $32 per month for wastewater treatment services • Proportional rates for commercial, multi-family residences

Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) • 3, 500 total acres • Process area 900 acres • 2, 600 acres of Bufferlands • Operates around the clock • Serves about 1. 4 million residents

SRWTP and Energy

SRWTP and Energy Use Many of the SRWTP’s operations are highly energy consumptive

Energy usage at the SRWTP • SRWTP is one of SMUD’s largest energy users – Annual energy costs are over $10 million • Usage over 100, 000 kwh per year – Equivalent to energy used by approximately 12, 000 homes – Will increase in future due to process upgrades • We continually seek ways to reduce energy usage and costs

Echo. Water Project GHG Mitigation • Echo. Water Project Final Environmental Impact Report − Included mitigation requirement for greenhouse gas emissions − A solar energy project is an option considered to meet the mitigation requirement − Solar projects being considered are sized to fulfill the mitigation requirements

Solar energy – project administration • Regional San would enter into a “power purchase agreement” – Purchase all energy produced – Flat rate over 25 -year term • Private solar developer would own the system and be responsible for all costs and risk – Engineering, permitting, construction, operation, maintenance, decommissioning

Solar energy project benefits • Estimated financial benefits − Approximately $5 million over 25 -year term − Financial benefit could be applied to Bufferlands restoration, sustainability and outreach efforts • Environmental benefits − Clean and sustainable energy source • Other benefits − Fulfill required greenhouse gas mitigation − Diversify Regional San’s green energy portfolio

What would a solar energy project look like? Parking canopies Fixed tilt ground mount

Locating a solar project • Key considerations: – Avoid conflicts with active Plant process areas and ongoing construction projects – Seek to minimize proximity to neighbors – Seek to preserve Bufferlands open space areas – Proximity to electrical grid connections

Overview of all potential locations originally considered

Solar project potential concerns • Environmental concerns – Conflict with some of the policies and objectives of the Bufferlands Master Plan Open Space Wildlife Habitat Aesthetics Management of Special Status Species Minimization of Permanent Structures • Community concerns – Aesthetic impacts to some neighboring residents

Bufferlands Natural Resources

Recommended project locations

Recommended project locations

Next Steps • Return to Regional San Board of Directors on August 26, 2015 – Staff will report back on outreach findings and request approval of the staff recommended alternative – Verbal and written comments and concerns (including comment cards) will be shared – Opportunity for the public to weigh in during Board meeting August 26, 2015 - 9: 30 a. m. Sacramento County Board Chambers 700 H Street, Sacramento

Questions?