TOWN OF JACKSON TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA DOCUMENTATION PREPARATION DATE: August 1, 2013 MEETING DATE: August 5, 2013 SUBMITTING DEPARTMENT: Administration DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR: Bob McLaurin PRESENTER: Bob McLaurin/ Shelley Simonton SUBJECT: Recommendation from Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project (JHESP) for use of Specific Purpose Excise Tax (SPET): Electric Vehicle Charging Stations STATEMENT/PURPOSE In August 2010 the Town of Jackson was the sponsoring entity for the taxpayer-approved SPET ballot item #6 Energy Conservation Measures for Public Buildings in the amount of $3,790,000. Therefore, the Town of Jackson receives the funds from the Teton County Treasurer and disburses those funds pursuant to the ballot language. The purpose of this item is to formally request SPET funding, as a 24-month loan to the Town of Jackson, in the amount of $37,000 to install four electric vehicle charging stations at 4 locations in the Town of Jackson. BACKGROUND/ALTERNATIVES Energy Conservation Measures for Public Buildings was described on the ballot as: For the funding of energy audits, planning, design, construction of energy efficiency measures and local distributed renewable energy generation in the Town of Jackson, Teton county or component units of Teton County, and/or Special District s buildings, structures, and/or facilities. To the extent necessary and allowed by law, the pledge to or payment of debt service and/or lease payments thereon the project. In late 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Town (TOJ), County (TC), and Lower Valley Energy (LVE) with the goals of implementing the mission of the Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project. In August, 2011 a Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project (JHESP) Joint Powers Board (JPB) was appointed. Recognizing that energy costs for valley residents will be higher in the future, and that LVE is a coop whereby all users benefit from energy savings, the JHESP has the following mission: The Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project provides LEADERSHIP, IMPLEMENTATION, and EDUCATION specific to energy conservation, energy sustainability, and energy efficiency. The JBP unanimously approved recommending SPET funding by the Council for the following project: Installation of 4 electric vehicle charging stations at the Deloney Bathrooms, Home Ranch Bathrooms, the parking garage and the Town Square. The technology exists today to install electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) infrastructure to charge electric vehicles (EV s), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV s). This would offer the option to both residents and tourists to charge their electric vehicles. JHESP and partner organizations will work with rental car companies to inform them that the EVSE s are available in town, and encourage them to purchase more EV s. Our partner in transportation initiatives, Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition, will add the station locations to the Department of Energy s (DOE) Alternative Fueling Station Locator, http://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_locations.html. As the regional designee of the DOE s Clean Cities program the Coalition supplies the DOE with station location information.
In order to reduce the electricity used to charge the vehicles, three of the charging stations will be placed in public parking lots where the town of Jackson has photovoltaic (PV) systems: Home Ranch 5 KW system, Deloney Restrooms 10KW system, and the Parking Garage 2.4 KW system. Co-locating the PV and the stations systems serve two important roles: 1) Offset electrical demand from charging EVs and 2) Provides a high visibility outreach option for the Town of Jackson and partners to showcase environmental initiatives. Additionally any electricity created through the PV system beyond what charging EV s require, will directly offset the energy demand of the building. The average energy used to fill up or charge a vehicle is 7.7 AC kwh. The average time charging a vehicle is 2.3 hours. Current Lower Valley Energy utility rates are 0.05 kwh; therefore Town of Jackson would pay approximately $.40 per vehicle charge event. The solar installations in the town of Jackson can accommodate up to 15 electric vehicle charging events per day, the electric vehicle charging event would only cost $.40 for every vehicle beyond the first 15. The parking spots where the EVSE s will be placed will be well marked and signed to be obvious. Photos of signage used in Michigan is attached. The charging station parking spots in the 3 public lots will be free and for electric vehicles only. If another vehicle parks in those spots, they will be subject to a violation/ ticket by JPD. The charging station parking spot on the Town Square will be located next to the Taxi spot, adjacent to the Stage Stop. This spot may be used by all vehicles, so it does not remove critical parking off of the square. However, if a vehicle is NOT an electric vehicle they must pay to park there. Electric vehicles may park for free and charge the car. A card reader will be included on this station. The amount to charge for parking in this spot has not yet been determined; The Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition will provide the Town and JHESP with market data from across the county on rates for parking at/using EVSE dedicated spots. The Electrification Coalition has prepared a report with PricewaterhouseCoopers regarding the Electric Vehicle Outlook (July 30, 2013). Key Findings are: Since market introduction in January 2011, more than 110,000 plug in electric vehicles have been sold in the United States; Compared to hybrids first years on the U.S. market, twice as many plug in electric vehicles have been sold since market introduction in 2011; The uptake rate of plug in electric vehicles is nearly three times what it was for hybrids over their first three years on the market; Tesla s Model S has captured 8.4 percent of the luxury market in the first six months of 2013, and sold more units than several in class competitors including the Audi A8, BMW 7 series, and Mercedes S class; The Nissan Leaf has captured 3.3 percent of the sub compact vehicle market; In comparing satisfaction surveys between PEVs and their marketplace competitors, PEVs outperformed their internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid counterparts on almost all counts; and Battery costs are expected to drop by about half by 2020, when we project an industry average price of $300 to 325 per kilowatt hour. The JPB believes this project is appropriate for this funding. The projects meet the letter and intent of the SPET initiative. The project also meets the following initiatives: Town Council s strategic intent of Environmental Stewardship Town of Jackson s new 40 x 20 Energy Efficiency goals JHESP Goals: 1) Mitigate 30 MW of future energy, 2) Work with Transportation, 3) Share the Message Jackson/ Teton County Comprehensive Plan: Principle 2.3 Reduce consumption through transportation Jackson/ Teton County Comprehensive Plan: Principle 2.1 Reduce consumption of non-renewable energy
The Town Council has many options to consider including: 1. Approval of SPET funds as recommended by the JHESP Joint Powers Board. 2. Discussion of the recommendation from the JHESP Joint Powers Board and continuance of action in order to gain further information. 3. Other 4. Take no action. ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL S STRATEGIC INTENT This project is directly in alignment with the Council s Statement of Strategic Intent related to Environmental Stewardship. ATTACHMENTS Photos of signage for Electric Vehicle Charging stations. FISCAL IMPACT The Town proposes to borrow from the 2010 SPET balance the full amount approved and repay it over the next two years (24-months) based on the estimated cost provided below. Home Ranch single plug in station $2,500 + $2,500 for installation $ 5,000 Deloney Restrooms single plug in station $2,500 + $2,500 for installation $ 5,000 Parking Garage dual plug in station $4,500 + $2,500 for installation $ 7,000 Town Square single plug in station $2,500 + $2,500 for installation $ 5,000 Card Reader for Town Square location $ 5,000 Signage $ 5,000 Sub total: $32,000 15% Contingency (Pricing is changing rapidly): $ 5,000 Total: $37,000 STAFF IMPACT Staff impacts include: time to prepare bidding documents, legal review & approval, advertisement, select and award contract for services and project management. LEGAL REVIEW Legal review & approval shall be required prior to advertising for bids. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the Town Council approve the expenditure from the 2010 SPET FUND as a 24-month loan to the Town of Jackson, in the amount of $37,000 to install four electric vehicle charging stations at 4 locations in the Town of Jackson. SUGGESTED MOTION I move to approve the recommendation from the JHESP Joint Powers Board and authorize payment from the 2010 SPET Energy Efficiency Fund to the Jackson Town Council expending the amount of $37,000 as a 24- month loan to install four electric vehicle charging stations at 4 locations in the Town of Jackson.