Richland School District Kicks Off Solar Energy Project
SHAFTER, CA - Richland School District (RSD) celebrated its new solar arrays with a ‘Flip theSwitch’ ceremony at Golden Oak Elementary School on Monday, March 9. The installation of these solar arrays, provided by building technologies and energy solutions provider, Climatec,marks the next step in RSD’s energy infrastructure update. RSD projects savings of approximately $7.5 million over and 719.1 kW over the solar technology’s 15-year lifespan.
The District’s Board approved the addition of 1,530 solar array panels across three campuses as a part of a larger energy conservation project. Purchased via a Power Purchase Agreement through Climatec (backed by BOSCH Corporation), the arrays went online in mid-December and are expected to produce 1,163,462 kWh in their first year of production.
“Flipping our new solar system on with the folks that contributed to its becoming has been perfect for celebrating this chapter of greater financial sustainability and energy efficiency,” said RSD’s Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Martin Rodriguez. “These are improvements that are bringing our facilities up to speed and adding to the Richland School District experience.”
RSD also upgraded energy efficient infrastructure through the addition of new HVAC units(including at the junior high cafeteria–a highly requested addition by the community), interior and exterior LED lighting, building automation systems and a new roof at the activity center. The rest of the upgrades are expected to wrap in Summer 2020.
About Richland School District
Based in Shafter, CA, Richland School District serves 3,031 students through three elementary and one junior high school. Richland’s schools’ believe in the premise that all children can learn and that student success is based upon the collaborative efforts of all segments of the school community including administration, teachers, support staff and the community at large. Everyday RSD works to foster the mental, physical, social, and emotional growth of all students by promoting excellence through meaningful, standards-based instruction and providing a nurturing school environment that support the development of positive self-image and social consciousness that will lead toward productive, responsible citizenship. Visit the RSD website to learn more.
With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, the federal government has signed up for an unprecedented, long-term investment in the clean energy sector here in the USA. The high-level objectives of the IRA are to: cut inflation, create jobs and spur domestic manufacturing–all while investing in the much-needed renewal of public infrastructure. Investments in electrification and clean energy production–plus the funding to motivate public entities to act–are noteworthy given the political stalemate in Congress for the past few years.
Public sector entities (cities, counties, schools, colleges, universities and water districts, to name a few) now have access to significant federal funding (30% to 60%+) to help offset the costs of eligible clean energy and electrification projects. Funding via other grants, such as Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants (EECBG), adds to the pool of monies available to fund these investments, and ultimately, address failing or inefficient infrastructure.
LONG-TERM, DIRECT TAX CREDITS FOR PUBLIC SECTOR
As is typical with the federal government’s grant and funding programs, the devil is in the details. In this case, the Department of Energy, the Treasury Department (yes, the IRS), the Transportation Administration and others, have a hand in creating the programs and regulations that disperse IRA funds. More importantly, as non-tax payers, local governments, schools and special districts historically have not benefited from the traditional Investment Tax Credits (ITC) of 30%. In the past, public entities had to rely on private investors with tax equity to fund these projects using complex third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs). That changes now.
From 2024 through 2033, the IRA authorizes direct-pay, investment tax credits to public entities who build long-term clean energy assets, such as solar photovoltaic and energy storage systems; small wind systems; geothermal-powered heating and cooling systems; electric vehicle charging stations; and related infrastructure. Even though you don’t pay taxes, you now receive these tax incentives as a direct payment in the form of a rebate towards your energy project.
CASH PAYMENTS TO OFFSET 30% OR MORE OF INSTALLATION COSTS
The IRA provides tax credit funds for an unlimited number of qualifying energy projects across the U.S. over the next 10 years.
The base tax credit under the IRA starts at 30% of eligible system costs. For typical systems under 1 Megawatt (MW) in size (per tax year), it may increase with entitlements of 10% for designated low-income areas, 10% for labor compliance requirements, 10% for community solar projects, plus up to 20% for systems located in designated Energy Communities. Systems exceeding 1 MW in size must comply with strict labor compliance and domestic content regulations to receive the tax credit subsidies.
Keep in mind that federal tax credit will be reduced by 15% if tax-exempt funds (e.g. municipal leases, tax-exempt bonds, etc.) are combined to pay for eligible systems.
TAX FORMS AND FILINGS ARE REQUIRED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT
Since fiscal public officials will be required to review, approve and file tax forms, you’re strongly recommended to consult your municipal financial advisor or tax professional regarding your IRA application strategy.
A public entity must first pay the cost of installing the eligible system, place the system into service, file a pre-registration form with the IRS and then wait for the IRS to respond with a system registration number. Once the public entity has the registration number, the special tax forms for your tax credit application are filed with your annual tax filing.
START NOW, OR YOU WILL LOSE OUT ON A TREMENDOUS FEDERAL SUBSIDY
As the saying goes, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The federal government has set aside a huge amount of funding for eligible public sector entities, and you may only capitalize on these funds if you take ACTION.
Form a working group of stakeholders, create a realistic energy modernization plan, then issue an RFP to procure an experienced, full-service energy services firm. After the project is developed, implemented and placed in service, your municipal financial advisor will work with your energy services company to maximize the federal tax credit subsidies for your particular community. Not to mention, the program as a whole will allow you to check major boxes for your Climate Action Plan (CAP) and meet State mandates for greenhouse gas emission reductions before 2030.
California ratepayers saw utility expenditures double in the last 5 years as public utilities posed double-digit year-over-year rate increases. These trends are expected to continue. Many public agencies are finding traditional, piecemeal approaches fall short in today’s construction economy due to staff bandwidth constraints, cost escalations, labor shortages and supply chain disturbances. As operating and capital budgets tighten across the board, it’s incumbent upon public sector leaders to get smart on streamlined project delivery methods and creative funding solutions. With more funding available than ever before, now is the time to implement your climate action initiatives if you haven’t already.
- Climatec and JIG-SAW partner to bring wayfinding technology to Petco Park.
- JIG-SAW’s IoT technology will be supported by Climatec in design, deployment, and service.
- Installed technology will reduce operational and maintenance costs, extend the life of equipment, and create improved amenities for Padres fans.
San Diego, CA: JIG-SAW and Climatec, LLC. have partnered to transform Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, into a connected and intelligent venue using JIG-SAW IoT technology. Through this collaboration, JIG-SAW and Climatec will enable complete visibility and control of the stadium to make Petco Park the definitive sports experience for fans and the Padres. The first phase of the project will be complete in mid-August as the Padres unveil interactive signage providing wayfinding directions and showcasing promotions for fans.
Earlier this year, JIG-SAW announced a partnership agreement with the San Diego Padres, an American professional baseball team competing in Major League Baseball (MLB), to provide JIG-SAW IoT technology for creating and managing networks of smart equipment. This technology will help the Padres by reducing operational and maintenance costs, extending the life cycle of equipment, and creating improved amenities for their fans.
To integrate the unique applications enabled by JIG-SAW software, JIG-SAW partnered with Climatec, an industry leader for advanced building and energy solutions. This partnership is set to revolutionize the landscape by seamlessly integrating JIG-SAW's groundbreaking IoT communication software technology into a centralized command center, expertly supported by Climatec in design, deployment, and service.
JIG-SAW’s IoT communication software technology provides an open and scalable foundation to connect and manage any device with any platform. The interactive signage and upcoming solutions will aggregate and analyze data by taking advantage of JIG-SAW IoT integration driver on Tridium’s Niagara, the connected product management platform for stadium operations. Climatec seeks to leverage the new capabilities that JIG-SAW software offers, integrating ready-to-deploy packages that reduce installation costs, simplify maintenance, and unleash invaluable data insights for data-driven decision making, supercharging operating revenue.
JIG-SAW and Climatec will collaborate to solve the digital transformation challenges of the Padres stadium and promote the solutions as case studies for other residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional facility operators across the nation and beyond.
About JIG-SAW
JIG-SAW is a software technology company that specializes in IoT Data Control Services. Our mission is to accelerate the time-to-market for IoT applications and bridge the operational technology (OT) and IT gap. For more information, visit https://www.jig-saw.com/
About Climatec
A Bosch Company: For over 40 years, Climatec has steadily invested in the people, technology, and services needed to be its customers’ trusted business partner. Today, Climatec is one of the leading providers of building technology and energy solutions in the nation with over 1,000 associates across Arizona, California, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Climatec’s technology partners include the world’s leading suppliers of building automation, security and life safety, and energy efficiency technologies. And since 2015, Climatec has proudly been part of the Robert Bosch group of companies. For further information see www.climatec.com.
