To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator
Staff Name and Phone Number: Dori Estrella, 707-565-6478
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Regional Climate Protection Authority Funding Agreement 2024
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize the County Administrator or designee to execute an agreement with the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) to provide up to $628,025 for marketing, outreach, education, administration, and consulting services consistent with the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) programs through December 31, 2025.
B) Authorize the County Administrator or designee to execute amendments with Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA), in form approved by County Counsel, to extend the term for up to two additional years and extend the program should additional funds become available.
end
Executive Summary:
Staff requests authorization for the County Administrator or designee to execute an agreement with the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA) for the Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD) to deliver programs of the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) through December 31, 2025. The agreement provides funds from RCPA for county staff to perform residential and commercial energy efficiency project, consultation, and educational activities, which result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the county.
This is the fifth agreement with RCPA for delivery of BayREN programs in Sonoma County. Services have been provided continuously since 2019. The two-year agreement ending December 25, 2025, is an increase of $291,841 over the previous agreement. The increased funding is due to an annual cost adjustment and introduction of three new program sectors: refrigerant replacement, integrated energy services, and targeted decarbonization. In addition, Sonoma County will develop two pilot programs which include development of an electrification checklist for homeowners based on the current Home Energy Score and an enhanced targeted multifamily outreach program.
Through partnership with RCPA, CARD will continue its service delivery, increase educational efforts, and continue serving the public with programs and services that result in greenhouse gas reductions and promote energy efficiency and resiliency to enhance Sonoma County’s community and environment.
Discussion:
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) is a collaboration of the nine counties that make up the San Francisco Bay Area. BayREN provides regional-scale energy efficiency programs, services, and resources.
The agreement leverages the impact of current energy efficiency and sustainability programs that the Climate Action and Resiliency Division (CARD) within the County Administrator’s Office, manages including the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP), the Sonoma Green Business Program, the Local Government Partnership with PG&E, and workforce development programs with local contractors, along with education and implementation of energy building codes for local municipalities.
To date, the achievements made through services provided by CARD through the RCPA agreement include:
• 3,539 Single family energy upgrades with over 603,823 kWh and 823,341.66 therm (measurement of energy) savings
• $1,655,718 in incentives paid to residents in Sonoma County
• 20 multi-family properties upgraded with energy and water saving features (1,393 units)
• The Codes and Standards program continued to support local jurisdictions with Reach Code development and implementation, energy code support, coordinating energy code educational programs and in the development of the scope and focus for the 2024 BayREN Existing Building Study.
Education and outreach efforts were expanded during the BayREN 2023 program year with 1,338 registered attendees across a wide variety of energy related topics for homeowners, renters, and contractors. This represented a 20% increase in attendance over 2022. The multi-family outreach was expanded and included the first workshop for property managers. A revamped commercial energy efficiency program was launched with an equity focus.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 1: Continue to invest in wildfire preparedness and resiliency strategies
Objective: Objective 1: Provide educational resources to the community that promote and facilitate carbon neutral and fire hardening construction for new and existing homes.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
4/5/2022 - Board approved Professional Services Agreement with Regional Climate Protection Authority and the County of Sonoma for implementation and marketing energy efficiency sustainability programs in the amount of $168,092.
3/2/2021 - Board approved Professional Services Agreement with Regional Climate Protection Authority and the County of Sonoma for implementation and marketing energy efficiency and sustainability programs in the amount of $168,092.
5/12/2020 - Board approved Professional Services Agreement with Regional Climate Protection Authority and the County of Sonoma for implementation and marketing energy efficiency and sustainability programs in the amount of $168,092.
2/26/2019 - Board approved Professional Services Agreement with Regional Climate Protection Authority and the County of Sonoma for implementation and marketing energy efficiency and sustainability programs in the amount of $95,969.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$168,092 |
$334,225 |
$293,800 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$168,092 |
$334,225 |
$293,800 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$168,092 |
$334,225 |
$293,800 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Staff resource costs required to perform the agreement will be reimbursed by the RCPA and paid on a time and materials/expense basis. The Agreement establishes a not to exceed limit of $628,025, which will be reimbursed to the County for services performed. The County shall invoice the RCPA on a monthly basis. The contract is administered on a calendar year basis.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
There are no anticipated staffing impacts.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Professional Services Agreement with the Regional Climate Protection Authority
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None