With energy costs continually on the rise, the City of Oakdale finalized an agreement with SitelogIQ to develop a proposal and facility solution agreement for the implementation of facility improvements, energy conservation, energy generation, and/or energy management services.
The agreement pushes forward a vision for the future that the City of Oakdale has been interested in pursuing since 2016 but was cost-prohibitive until now.
“The financing didn’t pencil out the first time around,” Oakdale City Manager, Bryan Whitemyer explained. “We revisited this time because power costs continue to go up.”
That progressive vision included the installation of more energy-efficient solar panels on city buildings and properties, exchanging old lighting with new LED lighting and replacing outdated well pumps and storm drains.
Two companies, SitelogIQ and Johnson Controls submitted proposals for the job. While both companies have developed and constructed several comprehensive energy conservation projects in other California cities, SitelogIQ won the bid.
The $6 million project will include energy management services, lighting retrofits, HVAC equipment replacement, and installation of solar panels on city buildings and lands.
However, cost projections estimate the project will more than pay for itself in savings within a handful of years.
“Our third year projection is $14 million in savings to the city,” Whitemyer shared.
The estimated timeline for the project provides an August groundbreaking ceremony but the recent pandemic restrictions and adjustments may alter the projections as the wheels of government — both federal and state — are moving slowly, which could affect grant applications.
“There are many unknowns we’re working with right now,” Whitemyer said. “But when the grant funding comes in, the project can move forward.”
Local COVID-19 Update
Whitemyer provided council members with a quick update on what’s changing and what’s remaining the same as far as the local economy was concerned.
“Our goal is to help all of our businesses open as soon as possible,” Whitemyer said, adding that doing so safely is also a top priority.
With the current (as of press time) number of COVID-19 related deaths in Stanislaus County at 15, the need to maintain responsible social distancing remains paramount but the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, amended his original plan to keep the state shut down, allowing for the potential reopening in phases.
Within Phase 2 local officials will have more flexibility in deciding which businesses can open, provided the regional plans allow for certification and meet “criteria that includes the capacity on testing, their capacity on tracing, the capacity on physical distancing and sanitation, and their capacity to protect the most vulnerable residents in their community,” including homeless, seniors and those in custody.
“Not every area is the same as others,” Whitemyer said, explaining that the Bay Area and Los Angeles will likely have different restrictions than smaller communities with less exposure.
Currently, many restaurants are available for curbside pick-up but many gyms, while technically in Phase 3, are anxiously awaiting news that they can safely reopen.
Whitemyer added, information changes on a daily basis as new information becomes available but the core goal remains the same: returning to business as usual as safely and responsibly as possible.
Current information on the COVID 19 pandemic and how it relates to city, state and county government can be found at the following websites: https://www.cdph.ca.gov; https://covid19.ca.gov; and http://schsa.org.
