ORDINANCE NO 241004

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Sponsor:  City Manager’s Office

Authorizing the City Manager to execute a pre-development agreement with Evergy, Inc., for the development of a solar photovoltaic project on Kansas City International Airport property and establishing terms and conditions for the project development.

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WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri, has a commitment to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing air quality for its residents and visitors through sustainable energy initiatives; and

WHEREAS, the City desires to create a reliable, resilient energy supply through a solar array that can support future regional growth, located on approximately 2,000 acres within the Kansas City International Airport; and

WHEREAS, a solar project could provide up to 500 megawatts of electricity, aligning with the City’s Climate Protection & Resilience Plan and its goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030; and

WHEREAS, Evergy, Inc., through its proposal, has been identified as offering the greatest potential benefit for the Kansas City region in developing this solar project; and

WHEREAS, the City and Evergy, Inc. seek to enter into a pre-development agreement to initiate engineering, design, permitting, and regulatory compliance activities essential to the project’s completion; and

WHEREAS, the City and Evergy, Inc. anticipate further agreements, including an Option and Lease Agreement and final development agreements, to solidify long-term commitments to the project; and

WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges that this pre-development agreement will serve as a foundational step to achieve the City’s renewable energy and environmental goals; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1.  That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute a pre-development agreement with Evergy, Inc., substantially in the form attached to this ordinance and on file in the City Manager’s Office, to establish the initial terms, conditions, and obligations required for the proposed solar photovoltaic project at the Kansas City International Airport.

Section 2.  The pre-development agreement will include provisions for:

•                     Site Assessments and Permitting:  Evergy, Inc., shall conduct environmental and site assessments, permitting applications, and regulatory compliance documentation.

•                     Project Design:  Evergy, Inc., shall complete a 10% project design package required for grid interconnection applications with the Southwest Power Pool.

•                     Financial Commitments:  Evergy, Inc., will finance and coordinate the project’s design, construction, and operational activities while working in good faith with the City to secure necessary incentives and minimize energy rate impacts.

•                     Additional Obligations:  Both parties agree to collaborate on workforce and subcontractor goals, including adherence to local hiring and business enterprise goals as outlined by the City’s Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity Department.

Section 3.  That the City Manager is authorized to negotiate a Ground Lease, Lease Option, and subsequent agreements with Evergy, Inc., subject to City Council approval, to finalize land use and development terms for the solar project at the Kansas City International Airport.

Section 4. That this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage, as it relates to the development of a public improvement and is therefore recognized as having an accelerated effective date pursuant to Section 503(a)(3)(D) of the City Charter.

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Approved as to form:

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Emalea Black

Associate City Attorney