The board voted 3-2 to deny moving forward with a proposed solar photovoltaic installation at Wells 17, 33, and 34. Staff recommended against the project citing risks from aging infrastructure (Well 17 drilled in 1955), uncertain well runtimes due to upcoming conservation mandates (up to 40% reduction by 2040), and a very tight federal Investment Tax Credit deadline that left little room for error. The projected best-case savings over 25 years was only $1.4 million (0.58% of projected pumping costs), and conservation impacts could eliminate that entirely. Vice President McKenna dissented strongly, arguing rising energy costs and global energy shocks make solar investment urgent, but the majority sided with staff's risk assessment.
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