City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

MEMORANDUM

TO:              David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:          Charles Soules, Public Works Director

                   Tammy Bennett, Assistant Public Works Director

CC:               Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

DATE:           October 22, 2009              

RE:               Annual green tag purchase

Please place the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for approval:

Action Request:  Approve purchase of 1007 green tags (renewable energy certificates) from Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) for $8,559.50. 

Background information:  The City of Lawrence began purchasing green tags in 2007 to offset three (3) percent of total electrical usage.  Green tags are certificates for renewable energy that offsets carbon emissions, to replace traditional sources of electricity with clean, secure, and sustainable renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, or hydro power.  Each green tag represents actual metered output from a renewable energy source and makes renewable energy generation more financially viable for producers to pursue.  For this years purchase, BEF can fulfill 50% of our green tags from the Bowersock hydro-electric plant.

The City of Lawrence does not receive a product, service, or financial offset to energy bills for green tag purchases. 

Green tags have been funded equally from three sources – general fund, utilities fund, and solid waste fund. 

Year	# of REC’s Renewable energy certificates	Unit price	Expenditure
2010	1007	$ 8.50	$  8,559.50
2009	1021	$10.00	$10,210.00
2008	934	$10.00	$  9,340.00
2007	685  (partial year only)	$10.00	$  6,850.00

Recommendation:

Authorize purchase of 1007 green tags (renewable energy certificates) from Bonneville Environmental Foundation for $8,559.50, funded through general fund, utilities fund, and solid waste fund.