In its last meeting of 2008, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Board approved $4.5 million in contracts and contract addendums. The board authorized a reworking of SMUD’s contract with Lennar Renaissance to increase incentives by $4.3 million for the installation of energy efficiency and photovoltaic measures in 400 new homes it plans to build. “As part of its new approach to PV, Lennar is changing its homes program to provide buyers with an option to lease the rooftop PV system rather than purchase it as part of the home sale,” said director Genevieve Shiroma. “Going from installing 2 kW systems to 4 kW systems in each home reduces the cost of installation from a dollar to a dollar and a half per watt.” The addendum extends the contract by two years, from the end of this year through December 31, 2011. It also increases the total contract value to just over $15.1 million. The board also voted to award a $200,000 contract with Leading Resources for providing facilitation and consulting services to the SMUD board. The contract’s duration is from Jan. 1, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2011. Both contract votes were unanimous, with Director Bill Slayton absent. This week’s meeting was the last for directors Susan Patterson and Peter Keat, who are leaving after 10 years and 20 years on the board, respectively. Patterson is being succeeded by Nancy Bui, an energy and technology consultant who on November 4 won a municipal election to represent Ward 2 on the board. Patterson did not seek re-election. “A year ago I realized that my organs were in conflict,” Patterson said. “That I have the heart for public service, but I don’t have the stomach for the politics.” Replacing Keat will be former Sacramento City Councilman Rob Kerth, who was elected Nov. 4 as the Ward 5 representative. Kerth ran unopposed to replace Keat, who’s retiring. “It has really provided me with a lot of purpose, meaning and the belief that I can leave the world a better place,” Keat said of his two decade board tenure. Bui and Kerth were elected to four-year terms.