Consent-General Government # 20.
Board of Supervisors
General Services
- Meeting Date:
- 10/07/2025
- Brief Title
- California Energy Commission Grant Award
From:
Ryan Pistochini, Director, General Services Department
Staff Contact:
Ryan Pistochini, Director, General Services Department, x5005
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Approve grant award documents for the California Energy Commission (CEC) Virtual Power Plant grant. (Potential general fund savings) (Pistochini)
Recommended Action
Approve grant award documents for the California Energy Commission (CEC) Virtual Power Plant grant.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Sustainable Environment |
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Robust Economy |
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Operational Excellence |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
On June 25, 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved participating in a University of California, Davis led grant application to the California Energy Commission's Virtual Power Plant program. The UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center (WCEC) will lead a collaborative effort between various local government entities in Yolo County—the County government, the City of Davis, and the UC Davis Campus—to demonstrate the benefits of community-based virtual power plant (VPP) strategies. The VPP is expected to generate one megawatt of power or more via demand response measures.
County staff recommended participating in this application as the County will receive the benefit of new control systems and programs that will allow the County to implement demand response strategies at key county buildings that can be controlled centrally by County staff in a targeted manner that reduces energy usage with minimal impact to County operations, while maximizing the ability to deliver carbon-reduction efforts and monetary electricity bill rebates. The County will receive a total $400,000 in grant funds over four years, used primarily to off-set the cost of a proposed County employed Energy Manager, and the County would contribute a total of $200,000 of in-kind costs via staff time that is already used to support building HVAC and energy systems. The CEC awarded grant funds to the UC Davis proposal with a finalized contract on February 24, 2025. Staff are asking the Board of Supervisors to approve the Subaward agreement with UC Davis so that the County can participate in this grant program.
County staff recommended participating in this application as the County will receive the benefit of new control systems and programs that will allow the County to implement demand response strategies at key county buildings that can be controlled centrally by County staff in a targeted manner that reduces energy usage with minimal impact to County operations, while maximizing the ability to deliver carbon-reduction efforts and monetary electricity bill rebates. The County will receive a total $400,000 in grant funds over four years, used primarily to off-set the cost of a proposed County employed Energy Manager, and the County would contribute a total of $200,000 of in-kind costs via staff time that is already used to support building HVAC and energy systems. The CEC awarded grant funds to the UC Davis proposal with a finalized contract on February 24, 2025. Staff are asking the Board of Supervisors to approve the Subaward agreement with UC Davis so that the County can participate in this grant program.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
The Yolo County General Services Department collaborated with UC Davis and the City of Davis on this grant opportunity. The department also worked with the County Administrator's Office and the Department of Financial Services. During the budget process, the Department of Community Services also committed non-general fund dollars to support the proposed Energy Manager position so that this new position will not utilize any general fund dollars in exchange for a portion of the position to focus on electric vehicle charging opportunities.
Competitive Bid Process/Vendor Performance
Not applicable.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal impact (see budgetary detail below)
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 50,000
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 50,000
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- Facilities Fees
- $50,000
Further explanation as needed:
Potential general fund savings due to rebates for demand response programs, savings avoiding energy use, and infrastructure savings through improved equipment operations. Approximately $50,000 annually will be the in-kind match via facilities fees, which are ordinary costs attributed to energy management activities inclusive of HVAC management activities ranging from maintenance, replacement, improvement, and controller monitoring/programming. Regarding the planned Energy Manager, half is to be funded by the Energy Grant, with a substantial portion from the Department of Community Services, and additional costs will be charged to applicable capital projects as part of the budgeted GSD project management fees.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Pistochini (Originator) | Ryan Pistochini | 09/30/2025 09:43 PM |
| Financial Services | David Estrada | 10/01/2025 11:19 AM |
| County Counsel | Kimberly Hood | 10/01/2025 05:36 PM |
| Yen Nguyen | Yen Nguyen | 10/02/2025 02:29 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Ryan Pistochini
- Started On:
- 04/14/2025 10:50 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 10/02/2025