Moorpark's City Council voted unanimously Oct. 7 to advance a free $120,000 solar and battery backup system for the city. The Clean Power Alliance (CPA) would install the system at the City Yard, 627 Fitch Ave.

The vote came as Southern California Edison shut off power to Moorpark customers during Santa Ana wind events starting Thursday, Oct. 15. The shutoffs underscored the backup power debate that divided council members even as they all voted yes.

CPA, a public nonprofit electricity provider formed by 38 agencies in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, would install and maintain the system for 20 years at no cost to Moorpark, as first reported by the Moorpark Acorn. The system would include a 9-kilowatt solar array over three parking spaces and a 14-kilowatt, 55-kilowatt-hour battery.

The panels would generate about 14,286 kilowatt-hours per year, offsetting roughly 19% of the facility's electricity use. During outages, one-third of the battery's capacity would provide up to four hours of backup power for critical operations. CPA would use the remaining capacity for grid management during peak demand from 4 to 9 p.m.

Mayor Chris Enegren said he would not spend $120,000 in city funds on a system offering limited backup power, calling it a waste of money. He questioned whether CPA funding could instead lower electricity rates for residents and businesses, who pay CPA through charges on their monthly Edison bills.

"If we all stop taking the programs, our money could come back," Enegren said.

He also questioned the system's usefulness during longer outages. The vote was unanimous.

Councilmember Tom Means shared some of Enegren's concerns but said it was hard to turn down a free system. He compared the project to receiving a gift card for a store where you might not need anything.

"It's hard for me to make a coherent argument that we shouldn't take that gift card," Means said.

Councilmember Antonio Castro supported the proposal, citing warnings that Edison's Public Safety Power Shutoffs, known as PSPS, would become more frequent. Councilmember Chris Barrett said the CPA board had prioritized clean energy and power resilience, and noted the council voted in 2018 to make Moorpark a CPA member.

Councilmember Renée Delgado asked about operating costs during outages. City Program Manager Roger Pichardo estimated a four-hour outage at the City Yard costs the city more than $10,000 in staff time and other impacts. Parks Director Jeremy Laurentowski said the system would offer convenience rather than a new capability, since the city already uses generators and extension cords.

CPA Senior Program Manager John Spector said the program prioritizes clean energy and essential operations, not revenue.

The Oct. 7 vote does not authorize construction. The proposal is part of CPA's second round of projects and must still receive final approval from the alliance's board. If selected, the project would return to the Moorpark City Council for approval of a memorandum of understanding and site lease.

The council meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 323 Science Drive.