County Paying $2.6 M To Install Solar Panels At High Desert Government Center

The county will spend $1.2 million more than had previously been budgeted to ensure that at least 70 percent of the electrical power used at the High Desert Government Center now under construction in Hesperia will come from solar panels.
The entire project is slated to cost $29.2 million. Originally, solar power was included as an intrinsic element of the project design. That portion of the project was budgeted at $1.48 million.
This week, however, after the county had obtained American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, it expanded the solar energy system portion of the project.
According to Gary McBride, a deputy administrative officer with the county, the county this week took action with regard to “the installation of a 286 kW solar energy system at the High Desert Government Center, currently under construction at 15900 Smoke Tree Street in the city of Hesperia. This item will authorize the increase in the project budget to $2,615,000 to fully fund the guaranteed maximum price for the installation, and authorize the payment of working capital advances as necessary to the city of Hesperia.”
On June 2, 2009, the county entered into an agreement with the city of Hesperia for the program management, construction and future purchase of the High Desert Government Center, which has an estimated completion date of October 2010.
On February 23, 2010, the board of supervisors accepted the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) which included funding for a 286 kW photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system on the roof and on carports at the HDGC.
The estimated total cost to construct the solar project is $2,823,000.
Phase I of the project, at a cost of $208,000, is in process and includes the initial development of bridging documents and cost of construction for infrastructure to support the solar energy system.
This amount was authorized as a change order under the agreement with the city in order to incorporate the solar project into the current construction progress, thereby avoiding modifications to the building  when the solar project is installed. Phase II of the project, at a cost of $2,615,000, is for the design and construction of the photovoltaic system and is the guaranteed maximum price under the solar agreement.
The city will act as the lead agency in the design, development and construction of the solar energy system. The city will obtain the county’s approval of the plans and complete the project using a design-build procurement process.
According to McBride, “The solar energy system is expected to reduce electricity consumption for the building by 70% and result in an estimated annual savings of approximately $60,000.”
The total HDGC project cost is $29.2 million and includes an allowance for contingencies in the approximate amount of $5.9 million. The total solar project cost is $2,823,000. The funding sources for the solar project are $208,000 from the HDGC project contingencies for Phase I design and infrastructure, and $1,480,000 EECBG American Recovery and Reinvestment Act  funding as approved by the board on February 23, 2010; $720,000 in  incentives that will be received over five years and $415,000 from the HDGC project contingencies for Phase II construction of $2,615,000.