REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Accept Federal Funding for the Silicon Valley Power City of Santa Clara - Fire Station Microgrid Project; Authorize the City Manager to Execute All Agreements and Documents Related to Accepting Federal Funding for an Estimated Amount of $500,000, and Approve Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructures.
BACKGROUND
In early 2021, the United States House Appropriations Committee elected to bring back the Community Project Funding (CPF) program to fund projects like Silicon Valley Power's Fire Station Microgrid project. In 2022, the City submitted a request for CPF to Senator Feinstein, Senator Padilla, and Congressman Ro Khanna for a City of Santa Clara - Fire Station Microgrid Project located at the City of Santa Clara's Fire Station #2 at 1900 Walsh Ave. This project was submitted for consideration to the Federal Appropriations Committee and is currently pending award. Attachment 1 (Pending Award No. DE-EE0010775 Letter, dated June 8, 2023) and Attachment 2 (Pending Award No. DE-EE0010775 Follow-Up Letter, dated July 12, 2023) details the award amount and process to receive the award.
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Clara's electric utility, Silicon Valley Power (SVP), is developing a multi-benefit Fire Station Microgrid Project which encourages microgrid technologies that provide community benefits through decarbonization and climate resiliency. A microgrid is a self-contained energy system that can operate independently from the main power grid as needed or in a mutually beneficial operation mode to enhance grid performance. The Fire Station Microgrid Project would provide environmental benefits through the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and criteria pollutants by avoiding the use of diesel backup generators, and it would also provide resiliency and reliability to support City operations and the community during outage events, catastr...
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