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VIDEO. From the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) regular board meeting on Monday, December 8th, 2025 at 7:00pm, as a hybrid meeting. Agenda. See also Opterra Presentation made to SAM Finance Committee on Thursday, November 13th, 2025 at 10:00am, as a hybrid meeting. SAM General Manager, Kishen Prathivadi, reports.
Staff Report from November 13th SAM Finance Meeting
Opterra Presentation: “Typical Energy Services Contract Model”
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) has been assessing solutions to address both rising energy rates and increased reliability of energy supply through on-site solar + battery storage/microgrid solutions. This is expected to replace the aged and oversized Emergency Backup Generator which is beyond its useful life and needs replacement.
We currently consume over 1.25 million kWh/yr and spend over $300,000 per year to maintain our current operations.
To address these costs and concerns, we have investigated a few methods to accelerate development given the looming deadline of the Investment Tax Credits (ITC) that are set to expire to solar systems by July 3, 2026, if no action is taken beforehand.
The State of California, recognizing the need to advance policies to aid governmental agencies in constructing energy conservation projects implemented California Government Code Sections 4217.12 through 4217.18.
California Government Code Section 4217.12 through 4217.18, authorizes public agencies, including SAM, to enter an energy service contract proposed by an energy services vendor when the anticipated cost of the alternative energy project will be less than the anticipated cost of energy that would have been expended if the project were not constructed.
In terms of financing energy conservation projects implemented via Government Code Section 4217.12 through 4217.18, these projects are typically structured such that the utility savings generated by the project is used to pay for the project. Below is a typical energy services contract model which demonstrates this principle.
SAM Staff reached out to OPTERRA at a CSDA conference and initiated discussions for an Energy Conservation Project.
OPTERRA Energy Services (OPTERRA) is a national energy services company with its headquarters in Oakland, CA. The Project team for the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside is based out of their Oakland and San Jose office.
OPTERRA (formerly ENGIE Services U.S.) has 52 years of experience supporting many cities, special district, and other public agencies across the country including 35 cities in California, such as Menlo Park, Salinas, and San Jose, along with a number of school districts within San Mateo County such as San Mateo Foster City SD and Cupertino USD (see map below). OPTERRA provides in-house design, engineering, project management, construction management, and project finance services, as well
as operations, maintenance, measurement, and verification services.
OPTERRA’s approach is to focus on renewables and energy efficiency savings while remaining vendor and technology neutral. This means they will evaluate many different technologies and providers for SAM and run a competitive bidding process on behalf of SAM for materials and local labor. OPTERRA can also guarantee the performance of its projects.
Investment Tax Credits
As public entities do not file taxes, there is a process in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which is called “Elective Payment” for Investment Tax Credits.
The IRA allows public agencies to file with IRS to receive tax credits. Several public agencies (Dublin USD, Yolo County, John Swett USD, Mountain View SD, and few others) now have submitted their forms and received their checks.
SAM will be eligible if it satisfies the following criteria:
OPTERRA will make a presentation at the meeting and present a preliminary model.
DISCUSSION
Upon direction by Finance Committee, OPTERRA can begin its detailed ProgramDevelopment phase, which includes detailed on-site energy audits, sub-contractor walks to obtain competitive pricing for labor, a financing approach, and development of a community engagement strategy, if desired.
We estimate that it will take 2-3 months to develop a final scope, costs, and savings, at which point Staff will present the proposed partnership to the Finance Committee for recommended action. If approved by the Finance Committee at a future meeting, Staff will present an ESC and financing plan for Board action. After approval by Board, OPTERRA will begin final engineering and construction. Program implementation will likely take 8-12 months, depending on the final scope.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with authorizing OPTERRA to develop an energy program at
this time.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the Finance Committee authorize Staff and OPTERRA to begin project development and come back to the Finance Committee to review the final project economics.
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Meetings ~ 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 7:00pm
SAM Agendas and Zoom Links
Subscribe to Agendas. Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.
SAM Meeting Videos via Pacific Coast TV
Where Does Your Poop Go ~ Virtual Video Tour!
Interactive “Story Map” Tour
Contact Us
Our regular office hours are 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Authority can be reached 24-hours a day at: (650) 726-0124.
Our Address is:
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside
1000 Cabrillo Hwy N.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
SAM Board from left. Paul Nagengast (HMB), Nancy Marsh (GCSD), Scott Boyd (MWSD), Debbie Ruddock (HMB), Barbara Dye (GCSD), Kathryn Slater-Carter (MWSD).
The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) provides wastewater treatment services and contract collection maintenance services for a population of approximately 24,000 in the following areas:
- City of Half Moon Bay
- El Granada
- Miramar
- Montara
- Moss Beach
- Princeton by the Sea
SAM Directors
SAM is a joint powers authority (JPA) created by its three member agencies: City of Half Moon Bay (City), Granada Community Services District (GCSD), and the Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD).
The JPA is a separate, independent, public agency created by the member agencies to perform functions and share powers common to the member agencies. Those powers are outlined in a joint exercise of powers agreement (Agreement). The Agreement creating SAM can be found on the Documents page.
Each Agreement identifies how the independent agency will be governed. In the case of SAM, each member agency appoints two members from its governing board to represent it on the SAM Board of Directors, for a total of six directors.
The Agreement also establishes the weight of each director’s vote. The vote by each representatives from the City is given the weight of two votes. The vote by each representative from GCSD and MWSD is given the weight of one vote. The total number of possible votes is eight. A quorum is a minimum of five votes and resolutions require at least six votes to pass.
2025 SAM Directors
Deborah Ruddock ~ Chair, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ Vice Chair, Representing the Montara Water & Sanitary District
Nancy Marsh ~ Secretary/Treasurer, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Barbara Dye ~ Director, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Paul Nagengast ~ Director, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Scott Boyd ~ Director, Representing the Montara Water & Sanitary District
Author: mdrag
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