Post 14 in a series. When Green Turns Brown is an examination of a small town’s digester-energy project, in which Whitewater, Wisconsin would import other cities’ waste, claiming that the result would be both profitable and green.
Recap: Trane received both a contract for a self-described study of Whitewater’s suitability for a waste-digester importation plan, and for an energy-savings contract. On 5.6.14, Whitewater’s Common Council heard how some of Trane’s work, among other projects, amounted to millions in public borrowing.
That evening, Whitewater approved spending (most of it as debt from bonds) for eight projects, of which a performance contract with Trane for an energy-savings project was one item.
For Trane, approved spending on 5.6.14 amounted to $1,181,580.
(The total approved to be spent on all projects was $5,128,125, with $4,235,276 of that amount to come from bond-issued debt spending.)
Trane’s original price for the energy-savings proposal presented to this city at the request of Whitewater’s city manager and full-time staff, amounted to approximately $1,900,000. See, Trane Presents an Energy-Savings Contract.
At the time of the initial presentation and price, on 2.20.14, neither Whitewater’s city manager nor full-time staff objected to a proposal of nearly two-million.
Over subsequent sessions, what was a vendor and staff recommended number of about $1,900,000 shrank to about $1,100,000. See, Trane’s Second Presentation on an Energy-Savings Contract and Trane’s Third Presentation on an Energy-Savings Contract.
Whitewater borrowed (mostly) to pay that amount, among other projects.
Council Discussion, 5.6.14 (including borrowing for Trane)
Agenda: http://www.whitewater-wi.gov/images/stories/agendas/common_council/2014/2014_-_05-06_Complete_Packet_c_2_reduced_size.pdf
Minutes:Unpublished.
Video: https://vimeo.com/94519080
WHEN GREEN TURNS BROWN: Mondays @ 10 AM, here on FREE WHITEWATER.
Next: A Wastewater Plant Update.