Communitywide Electrification Cost and Capacity Feasibility Studies for the City of Pinole

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to invite proposals from qualified firms to assist the City of Pinole with communitywide electrification cost and capacity feasibility studies with a solutions-based approach to learn about potential barriers and methods to overcome them in order to achieve the community electrification goals in our Pinole Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), a roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.

The City of Pinole is advancing community-wide building decarbonization through multiple, coordinated strategies. In 2024, the City launched the Pinole Energy Enhancement Rebate program (PEER) to help offset project cost of various energy-efficiency measures for single-family and multi-family property owners. The City is also recently launched an all-electric building virtual concierge—a one-stop platform designed to streamline adoption of electrification measures.

In tandem, the City is also pursuing reach codes to establish stronger standards that support long-term decarbonization goals. The City also modernized its permitting systems by launching eTRAKiT for online permitting as well as Symbium for instant approval of solar and, just recently, a suite of energy-efficiency permits, significantly improving efficiency and accessibility. Additionally, the City has allocated funds to issue no-cost permit fees for heat pump water heaters and heat pump HVACs. In tandem, the City is developing a water heater loaner program and revolving fund to simplify and accelerate adoption of electrification measures.

The City of Pinole adopted its inaugural CAAP [1] in August 2024 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, aligning with State goals and reducing the City’s contribution to global emissions. Building energy consumption from fossil fuels makes up approximately 32% of the Pinole community greenhouse gas emissions with building electrification identified as a key strategy.

Central measures in the CAAP’s Building Energy section include

• BE-1 Electrify 100% of new construction in the City in 2024
• BE-2 Electrify existing residential buildings to reduce natural gas consumption by 26% by 2030 and 100% by 2045
• BE-3 Electrify existing commercial and mixed-use (i.e., combined commercial and residential) buildings to reduce natural gas consumption 18% by 2030 and 100% by 2045

Actions under these measures to make progress towards these goals include

• BE-1d Conduct an electrification infrastructure and capacity feasibility study to identify expected increases in electricity demand due to building and vehicle electrification and identify infrastructure improvements (including local renewable energy and storage projects) to increase capacity to meet demand.

• BE-2c Complete a residential existing building electrification feasibility analysis by 2024 to determine the upfront and on-bill costs associated with building electrification strategies and draw on existing ordinances from similar jurisdictions to identify barriers to replacement and permit compliance (including equity barriers). This information will be used to inform and support future updates to the existing building electrification ordinances as well as the building electrification resource center (Action BE-2e)

• BE-2h Conduct a cost-effectiveness study and design electricity and natural gas billing rates that make electrification the most cost-effective option to reduce energy bill burdens

• BE-3a Complete an existing commercial building electrification feasibility analysis in 2024 to determine the upfront and on-bill costs associated with building electrification strategies and draw on existing ordinances from similar jurisdictions to identify barriers to replacement and permit compliance (including equity barriers).

The City was awarded Federal grant funds through the California Energy Commission Local Government Building Decarbonization Challenge to support preparation of these programs. The resulting fixed-fee contract will be entirely funded with grant funds and scope of services will be subject to all grant terms and conditions.