HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2012-06-27 SPECIAL MEETING
�zx S� MINUTES
_ y CITY COUNCIL
° OF THE
4 t.rpool CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
P.O. Box 711 (City Hall, 400 Grand Avenue)
South San Francisco, California 94083
Meeting to be held at:
MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING
COMMUNITY ROOM
33 ARROYO DRIVE
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012
1. Call to Order. 6:02 p.m.
2. Roll Call. Present: Councilmembers Addiego,
Matsumoto and Mullin *, Vice Mayor Gonzalez and Mayor
Garbarino.
*Councilman Mullin arrived at 6:07 p.m.
Absent: None.
3. Public Comments — comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting
Agenda.
None.
4. Agenda Review.
None.
5. Study Session: Bloom Energy Proposal.
Director of Public Works White presented the staff report describing the proposal from Microsoft
and Bloom Energy pertaining to fuel cell power at the Water Quality Control Plant. Fuel cell
power uses an electro- chemical process with cleaner burning energy and lessens the carbon
footprint. Staff had unsuccessfully pursued a grant for this technology and put the project on the
back burner for funding reasons. In the meantime, staff engaged in a dialogue with Microsoft's
data center, which was interested in applying the technology at the WQCP in conjunction with
Bloom Energy to determine its feasibility and effectiveness.
Sean James of Microsoft addressed Council and discussed how clean technology outcomes could
help benefit the cloud.
Peter Henderson of Bloom Energy described the proposal was for an 18 month demo project at
the WQCP that would be connected to run with Microsoft a Data Center. The Center would look
like a trailer located at the WQCP. During the period, several different functionalities would be
tested. A direct use of biogas from the facility would be implemented. Ultimately, Microsoft
was heading down the path of using clean and reliable energy in city centers. Bloom would
partner to provide this sustainable source for data centers. He explained South San Francisco
was selected for this test because of the WQCP's potential to bring cleaner power and leverage
biogases, which had the potential to yield continuous energy in a clean manner.
Director White advised staff sought direction from Council as to whether it was supportive of
this project. If so, the next step would be to bring back a formalized agreement that would be
cost neutral to the City.
Councilmembers expressed support for the project and looked forward to the opportunity to
participate in this test of cutting edge technology that might yield advancements in clean energy
for the City and all energy users in the future.
6. Adjournment.
Being no further business, Mayor Garbarino adjourned the meeting at 6:29 p.m.
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 27, 2012
MINUTES PAGE 2