On March 4, 2021, the School Board approved participation by FCPS in the solar power purchase program that was procured by Fairfax County Government on behalf of itself, certain County authorities, and FCPS. Since that time, the County terminated one of the three contracts awarded for solar power purchase services (PPA Service Contracts), leaving two solar contractors eligible to perform these services on behalf of the participating entities. Thereafter, the County amended its contracts with the two remaining solar contractors effective January 14, 2022, to, among other things, amend the fee schedule and eliminate the primary, secondary and tertiary contractor rankings.
Following the January 2022 contract amendment, FCPS’s Office of Facilities Management (OFM) requested proposals from both remaining solar contractors for FCPS’s first rooftop solar power purchase project at Annandale High School. In the months since that request, one of the two remaining solar contractors responded.
On August 12, 2022, Ipsun Power Inc. d/b/a Ipsun Solar (Ipsun) submitted its proposal for Annandale High School pursuant to Fairfax County Contract No. 4400009517, as amended. Ipsun’s proposal has since been reviewed by the Energy Solutions Division of CMTA, Inc. (CMTA), a third-party engineering firm that has evaluated and advised OFM regarding projected energy savings and other aspects of Ipsun’s proposal.
In order to proceed with the implementation of Ipsun’s proposal for Annandale High School, FCPS and Ipsun will be required to enter into a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (Solar PPA) in the form attached to this agenda item. The Solar PPA sets forth the process for finalizing the design of the solar facilities to the satisfaction of FCPS, and provides for installation, commissioning, and operation of the facilities by Ipsun. Ipsun will retain ownership of the solar facilities throughout the term, subject to exercise of FCPS’s purchase option. The Solar PPA further memorializes Ipsun’s commitment to sell (and FCPS’s obligation to purchase) all electricity generated by the rooftop solar facilities for a period of 25 years at a rate of $0.102 per kilowatt hour, subject to an annual escalation of 2% after the 5th year of operation. Ipsun’s rooftop solar facilities will be connected to the electrical distribution system maintained by FCPS’s utility provider so as to permit transfer of solar-generated electricity that is not immediately usable at the site to the utility under a net metering arrangement to be agreed upon by FCPS and the utility. Under that net metering arrangement, FCPS expects to receive credits for all electricity transferred to the utility’s distribution system.
Total payments to Ipsun over the course of the Solar PPA’s 25-year term are estimated at $2,153,088.71, an amount representing energy cost savings estimated by Ipsun and CMTA as ranging between $11,000 and $22,000 per year, on average, for this site. In addition to the anticipated energy cost savings, the solar power purchase program proposed for Annandale High School will further FCPS’s efforts in responding to the renewable energy recommendations of the Joint Environmental Task Force.
Recommendation:
That the School Board approve the implementation of a rooftop solar power purchase program at Annandale High School and authorize the Division Superintendent and the interim Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Transportation Services (either of whom may act without the other) to execute the Solar PPA and administer the contract on behalf of the School Board.
Attachment:
FCPS School Board PPA Annandale High School_91119120_5 (2)