4.5. SR 03-04-2019
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.5
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent March 4, 2019 Amanda Bednar, Environmental Coordinator
Item Description Reviewed by
MMPA Hometown Solar Grant Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, the 2019 Hometown Solar Grant Program Agreement with MMPA.
Background/Discussion
The city has been chosen as a recipient of the 2019 Energy Education, Hometown Solar Grant Award
from Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (MMPA). This grant will provide Elk River with a 5 kW solar
installation at City Hall to provide hands-on education about how solar power works. This grant is
available because Elk River Municipal Utilities is part of MMPA. Tom Sagstetter from ERMU provided
additional information about this program during the January 22, 2019, work session before we applied
for the grant.
The attached agreement outlines MMPA will design, construct and install the solar installation. The city
will own, operate and maintain the system once complete. The proposed location is east of City Hall
adjacent to the employee parking lot and near the path along Lake Orono. The proposed location would
offer high visibility to those visiting the building, the library or those simply driving down Orono
Parkway. It also provides a convenient connection inside the garage. We plan to utilize this for
educational purposes and further our goals as Energy City. The solar array will be constructed during
2019.
Financial Impact
None
Attachments
Hometown Solar Grant Program Agreement 2019 Elk River
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
MINNESOTA MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY
HOMETOWN SOLAR GRANT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into effective this _____ day of ________, 2019, by and between the
the City of
Elk River
Whereas, MMPA has established the Hometown Solar Grant Program , which is an
Hometown Solar Grant
and the public with respect to the conversion of sunlight into electricity, and the unique
characteristics of solar power; and
Whereas, the Hometown Solar Grant Program provides selected schools and other educational
facilities such as community offices/centers or libraries with a ~5 kW solar installation
; and
Whereas, following an application and selection process established by MMPA, Grantee has been
selected to be the Grant Recipient for the Solar Facility to be located in its respective MMPA
member community.
Now therefore, MMPA and Grantee agree as follows:
1) MMPA Responsibilities and Authority:
a) MMPA shall design, construct and install all aspects of the Solar Facility.
b) MMPA shall select and oversee all necessary contractors and vendors for the
procurement, construction, and installation of the Solar Facility. MMPA shall enter into
any necessary contracts and make appropriate payments to such contractors and vendors.
c) Project costs associated with the design, procurement, permitting, construction, and
commissioning of the solar installation will be covered by MMPA under the Program;
d) MMPA shall handle all inspection, testing, and approval of the construction and
installation of the Solar Facility. Upon completion and connection of the facility to
G.
e) Upon completion of the Commissioning process, MMPA shall notify Grantee of such
Commissioning, and turn over all ownership and operational responsibilities of the Solar
Facility to Grantee, subject to the terms of this Agreement.
2) Grantee Responsibilities and Authority:
a) Grantee shall own the Solar Facility and shall receive all electricity generated by the
facility.
b) Grantee shall seek to obtain such permits and approvals as may be necessary for the
project. In the event Grantee is unable to obtain such permits and approvals, MMPA shall
have the right to withdraw from this Agreement with no further obligations.
c) Grantee shall allow all access necessary for MMPA and its contractors and vendors to
install and connect the Solar Fexisting electrical system.
d) Grantee shall designate a person to coordinate site access for MMPA and its contractors
and vendors.
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e) Grantee shall be responsible for operating and maintaining the facility through its
reasonable lifetime, including any operating and maintenance expenses (i.e. cleaning
panels of snow and debris) after commissioning.
f) Grantee shall be responsible for the decommissioning of the Solar Facility, at such time
as decommissioning becomes appropriate.
g) Upon Commissioning of the Solar Facility, Grantee shall assume any and all liability
associated with the Solar Facility. Grantee shall obtain all such liability and other
insurance that it may deem necessary with respect to the facility and its generation of
electricity.
h)
system (such as WI-FI, for example).
i) Grantee shall allow generation output data to be shared via communications installation
to the general public, in addition to MMPA.
j) To support the educational objectives of the Program, Grantee agrees to allow and
coordinate public access to the Solar Facility, including the physical installation as well
as output data.
General provisions:
a) rights nor obligations hereunder shall be assignable without the prior
written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
b) This Agreement shall be governed and construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of Minnesota.
c) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties.
d) No changes or modifications may be made to this Agreement without the written
consent of both Parties.
e) Any disputes arising under this Agreement shall be resolved by arbitration, under the
rules of the American Arbitration Association, before a single arbitrator in a
proceeding to be held in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
f) Each Party represents to the other that it has taken all necessary steps to authorize its
execution of this Agreement, and that the person signing below has been authorized by
the Party to execute this Agreement on its behalf.
With the intent of being bound by the provisions of this Agreement, effective on the
date stated in the first paragraph above, the Parties hereby sign this Agreement as set
forth below:
Minnesota Municipal Power Agency Grantee
By: ________________________ By: ________________________
Name: ______________________ Name: ______________________
Title: _______________________ Title: _______________________
Date: _______________________ Date: _______________________
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