No one wants to push away free money, especially if it pays for projects that could save even more money.

Facing a difficult budget year like many cities and stimulus funding that now includes energy savings, the Brooklyn Park City Council entered into a guaranteed energy savings agreement Monday, Nov. 16, with McKinstry Company.

The city hired McKinstry Company, based in Brooklyn Park, in June to help with an Energy Conservation Block Grant application and to create a performance contracting detailed energy study. The city received $649,200 in grant money and the study has identified proposed energy saving projects at city buildings.

Costs of the projects identified by McKinstry and city staff total about $6.3 million.

"I don't mean to sound offensive and I can see the benefits of these projects, but money is tight right now," Councilmember Peter Crema said. "With a $6 million projected cost and a payback savings ranging from 10, 12 or up to 30 years, it's tough for me to say to do this when we don't know if we can pay for more police or fire."

Crema asked if the city has to take on every project in the package McKinstry presented.

"No, it's up to you as a council on what you want to do, but many of these projects are proactive that realize great energy, environmental and cost savings," said Greg Ackerson, business development manager for McKinstry.

The largest and most expensive project calls for renovating the city's ice rinks. Replacing one rink's old refrigerant with a proposed geothermal system would cut in half the estimated $4 million it would cost to replace it later, Ackerson said.

"Prices can only go down from here," he said. "This is worst case scenario."

The city would pay for half of the $4 million if the rinks were renovated as proposed instead of paying the total costs later without funding assistance.

Councilmember Jeff Lunde wanted to see the proposed project costs compared how much the city would have done without the energy study or grant money. City staff said geothermal wouldn't have entered the picture without the study or grant. The geothermal system would use a water vein near the Community Activity Center where the rinks are housed.

"I understand the difficult times we're in, but long-term thinking makes sense," Councilmember Mike Trepanier said. "At some point we have to cough up the money to [fix the rinks]."

Ackerson said the proposed projects would be contracted locally and provide $6.5 million in work to local contractors.

The council has not approved moving forward with any of the proposed projects at this time.

"I'd like to see this progress, but it's good to know we can pull the plug on the projects later," Crema said.

The next step involves getting construction contract costs for each project and coming back to the council to see which ones it is willing to keep or cut loose.

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