City of Columbus - Distributed Energy Resource Planning
The Need
In 2017, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced an ambitious goal to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations by 40% by the year 2030, to explore a 100% renewable energy portfolio for municipal operations, and to reduce annual energy spending. In 2020, The City of Columbus, along with community stakeholders and the public, created a Columbus Climate Action Plan (CAP) to serve as a roadmap to meet the 2050 carbon neutrality goal.
The CAP directs the City to develop 200 MWdc of municipal solar and other distributed energy resources (DER) by 2030 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve City resilience, and provide energy bill savings. The City hired Go to support its progress on developing pilot microgrid projects, increasing residential and commercial on-site solar.
Our Approach
Starting in 2020, Go helped the City understand how it might own renewable energy systems, considering:
Sites – Identify sites where renewable energy systems could be installed, their potential, and how to prioritize.
Stakeholders – Engage and interview stakeholders across departments to align priorities and identify barriers and opportunities.
Technologies – Research and analyze technologies for potential installation.
Energy Contracts – Review how the City’s buys energy and how renewable energy might impact those contracts and the strategies for energy procurement.
Rules & Regulations – Understand how local, state, and federal rules and regulations impact the City’s decision making and deployment plan.
Economics – Quantify the value proposition of renewable energy for the City.
Ownership – Recommend appropriate ownership and implementation paths.
This effort was supported by a broad and generous group of City stakeholders from multiple departments and by our subcontractors.
The Results
On-Site Solar
As of 2025, the City’s municipal utility, Columbus Division of Power (DOP) has installed two of the nation’s largest distributed solar projects within its distribution grid.
After determining favorable project economics and understanding DOP’s capability to export power to the regional transmission grid at both sites, Go helped DOP engage the market to select a vendor and negotiate a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for solar. These projects provide the City with significant positive cashflow and with local renewable energy.
The 27 MWac / 34 MWdc Parsons Avenue Water Plant solar began generating power in 2024. This installation provides ~5% of DOP’s energy needs.
The 18 MWac / 23 MWdc Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant solar is expected to begin operation in 2025. It should offset ~3% of DOP’s energy needs.
In 2025, DOP and Go are actively evaluating project feasibility and innovative ownership/offtake options for distributed solar and preparing documents to engage the market to select a vendor for additional projects.
Microgrids
In 2024, Go and City stakeholders developed a site selection methodology for microgrid pilot projects based on a site’s alignment with the CAP goal and considering site and project benefits. In 2025, Go and the City are working to select sites for future implementation.
Our Role
Renewable Energy Owner’s Representative, Technical Advisor
The Client
City of Columbus
Duration
2019 - Present
Team
Gregory Raffio, PE, LEED AP BD+C
Milena Walwer
Peter Worley
Tommy Tappel