Item 26 - Grant Application for Solar Power Project

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i Generation of Solar Power at Garthe and West Pump Station Facilities Project Bureau of Reclamation Water Energy and Efficiency Grant FY2022 The proposed Project is a more effective and sustainable solution than these options for GHG reduction. • Expected environmental benefits of the renewable energy system The proposed Project is expected to generate 1,316,942 kWh on an annual basis, resulting in an expected water supply savings of over 101.4 AFY. (Refer to above Section Quantifiable Water Savings for calculation.) The expected energy and water savings from the installation of this renewable energy system will benefit the overall environment, including the following: • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions reducing the global warming trend • Enhanced water reliability and water quality • Improved air quality • Wildlife preservation • Fewer extreme weather events and therefore, Improved fire protection • Improved forests and rural landscapes • Improved water conservation management • Health benefits for humans and all living things Additionally, by implementing a local renewable energy source, water savings of 101.4 AFY will be realized due to reduced reliance on fossil fuel energy. Electricity production is among the biggest uses of water in the United States. Energy production by thermoelectric power plants account for the largest share of freshwater withdrawals in United States. This is followed by 37% for irrigation and only 13% for drinking water accounts. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind can mitigate our drought issue and set us on a better path to conserving this precious resource that is vital to all life on earth. Coal-fired power plants can use up to 1,100 gallons of water per megawatt -hour for cooling and operations. Nuclear power plants use roughly 800 gallons of water per megawatt -hour heating water to create steam to turn turbines and produce power, and natural gas can use 300 gallons of water per megawatt -hour for extraction and electricity generation. Fracking for natural gas also contaminates water. Solar energy on the other hand requires no water to generate power. • Any expected reduction in the use of energy currently supplied through a Reclamation project. As mentioned previously, the City receives its energy from SCE who generates and purchases energy from a variety of sources and transmits the energy to its customers. One source of energy that SCE is reliant upon is the Hoover Dam, which generates up to 4 billion kWh per year and is owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation. Any 7 PREVIEW Date: Nov 03, 2021 Workspace ID: WS00800354 Funding Opportunity Number: R22AS00023