City asks for energy‑manager position to rein in $7.8M in utility costs, pursue TVA rebates

City sustainability officials asked the legislative budget committee to fund a new certified energy and sustainability manager, saying the hire would identify inefficiencies in municipal buildings and pursue rebates and grants that could offset the position’s cost.

Dave Ray, the sustainability analyst, told members the city currently spends about $7.8 million annually on utility bills (water, gas and electricity) and that the new manager would analyze utility data, work on performance contracts and pursue TVA and federal incentives. “The person in this role would work every day to find ways to keep those costs down,” Ray said.

Officials said the role differs from facilities or project‑management work and requires a certified energy manager with technical skill to apply for rebates, manage pre‑approval processes and maintain efficiency systems across roughly 100 city buildings beyond the 19 included in the performance contract. Ray and deputy director Don Shell Foster said rebates alone could materially offset salary costs in years with large HVAC projects.

Staff also outlined recent capital work: a 60‑kilowatt solar array and the city’s first battery‑storage application at the E. Davidson site, and plans to pursue federal direct‑pay incentives for eligible capital projects. They emphasized coordination with utilities and pre‑filing deadlines for federal programs.

Why it matters: The proposed position is framed as an investment to reduce ongoing operations costs and capture available rebates and grants. Officials said other cities typically save more in energy costs than the salary expense for a dedicated manager, though projected savings vary by year and project scope.

No formal vote was recorded during the hearing; staff said they would return with further detail as the budget process continues.