Sec. 8-54. Definitions.

   In this Article, the following words have the meanings indicated:

      Clean energy portfolio target means a target, expressed in megawatt hour equivalents, for establishing an amount of clean energy to be installed on the County’s portfolio of facilities. The County’s portfolio includes any building, facility, or property in which the County has a financial interest. A financial interest includes any ownership, lease, or public private partnership, and any facility where the County provides 30% of total funding.

      Clean renewable energy technology means a technology or system that uses geothermal heating and cooling, solar hot water heating, wind power, solar electricity generation, or solar thermal generation. Clean renewable energy technology includes passive solar energy generation that reduces energy use from other sources by at least 20%.

      Department means the Department of General Services.

      Director means the Director of the Department or the Director’s designee. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1.)

Sec. 8-55. Clean renewable energy technology required.

   (a)   By December 10, 2014, the County Executive must establish, by Method 1 Regulation, a Clean Energy Plan that includes a specific amount of on-site clean energy that must be installed on any new or existing County facility. This Plan must include:

      (1)   a clean energy portfolio target for total clean energy to be installed on County facilities, which must exceed 1 kilowatt per 1,000 square feet of facilities anticipated to be added to the County’s portfolio as documented in the Capital Improvement Program;

      (2)   a process for vetting any new facility for potential renewable energy installation during the design phase, including key criteria for evaluating opportunities for solar energy;

      (3)   a plan to ensure that appropriate facilities are solar ready, to the extent possible;

      (4)   criteria for responsible site selection to balance the County’s renewable energy goals with other environmental objectives;

      (5)   a process to coordinate with County agencies on any new facility built using at least 30% County funds; and

      (6)   required funding and staffing to achieve the target.

   (b)   The County may install a clean energy system in an alternate location in the County to meet this requirement, including:

      (1)   a vacant property;

      (2)   a land swap or lease agreement; or

      (3)   any other property or facility where the County has a contractual, budgetary, or other interest.

   (c)   The Executive must recommend to the Council whether funds to support solar energy should be incorporated in a energy specific capital improvement budget, utility Non Departmental Account, or other mechanism to overcome any funding gap to meet the renewable energy target. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 7, §1.)

Sec. 8-56. Alternative financing.

   (a)   An alternative financing arrangement which allows leveraging of federal, state, utility, and other incentives, including any grant, lease-purchase agreement, power purchase agreement, or energy savings performance contract, may meet the clean renewable energy technology requirement under this Article.

   (b)   The purchase of Renewable Energy Credits does not meet the clean renewable energy technology requirement under this Article. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1.)

Sec. 8-57. Administration; reporting.

   (a)   The Department must administer this Article using accepted principles of sound accounting and fiscal management.

   (b)   The Department must submit an annual report to the County Council and County Executive by April 1 each year describing:

      (1)   the added clean renewable energy technology generation by each project;

      (2)   the revenues and expenditures of each project;

      (3)   each project supported by the Program; and

      (4)   the cost and energy savings resulting from the program. (2014 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1.)

   Editor’s note—Former Article VIII. Energy Efficiency (Secs. 8-54, 8-55, 8-56, 8-57), derived from 2008 L.M.C., ch. 7, § 4, was repealed by 2010 L.M.C., ch. 16, § 1.