PowerButte: Solar Overlay Tim Snellings, Director Department of Development Services Photo courtesy...
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Transcript of PowerButte: Solar Overlay Tim Snellings, Director Department of Development Services Photo courtesy...
PowerButte: Solar Overlay
Tim Snellings, DirectorDepartment of Development
Services
Photo courtesy of Shamim Mohamed
A Place For Clean Energy
Presentation Overview
PowerButte (power.buttecounty.net)
1. PACE programs
2. CAP implementation
3. CCA/CCE
4. Butte County Solar Overlay Project
What’s happening out there, around CA? People are getting creative for installation of utility scale solar PV systems…
Introduction
Photo credit: http://www.dpr.com/projects/butte-college-phase-3-solar-grid
Butte College, Butte County, CA – Goal, to be the first Grid Positive College in the USA
Introduction
PGE 27 MW near city of Lemoore, CA
Is this farmland? Is there water? Is the soil marginal? Is this in the Williamson Act?
Introduction
88 MW south of Sacramento, CA
Lessons Learned – Other Counties
» Key public concerns: aesthetics/glare, environmental impacts, agricultural impacts, land use compatibility, property values, obsolescence/disposal
» Strategies: site design standards and mitigations, development regulations, education/outreach
» Community goals: economy/jobs, setting a good example, energy independence, regulations that mitigate impacts, streamlined permitting benefits
Benefits of the Solar OverlayHow will the overlay benefit Butte County residents?» Promotes renewable energy alternatives and reduces
dependence on fossil fuels» Improves resilience of local electrical grid» Eliminates red tape and cuts costs for solar energy» Plans ahead to avoid impacts from
new energy infrastructure» Supports local green jobs» Lowers electricity costs with
increased supply (statewide)» Implement the General Plan and
CAP, which mandate PowerButte
Photos courtesy of Butte College
Solar Overlay Policy Background
Climate Action Plan
Zoning Ordinance
General PlanAdopted 2010, updated 2012
Adopted 2012
Adopted 2014
PowerButte Components:» Solar Overlay Zone» Community Choice
Energy (CCE) » Property Assessed Clean
Energy (PACE) Program» Rooftop Solar» CAP monitoring and
implementation
Public Involvement
» Community Workshops
» Stakeholder Group
» Online input: buttecounty.granicusideas.com
» Planning Commission
» Board of Supervisors
Creating the Vision
» Community Workshop #1• Oroville: June 10, 2015• Chico: June 11, 2015• About 50 participants
» PowerButte online survey• buttecounty.granicusideas.com• Over 60 responses to date
Draft Vision
Butte County is a place for clean, abundant, and renewable energy supported by technological innovation. Energy generated within the county contributes to economic development, environmental protection, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Utility-scale solar facility development complements the County’s scenic qualities, avoids impacts to agricultural resources, and is sited and designed in harmony with Butte County’s residential communities and cities.
Draft Guiding Principles
» Open and Transparent Process
» Agriculture
» Biological Resources
» Scenic Quality
» Property Owner Coordination
» Local Preferences
» Broadly Shared Benefits
» Permit Streamlining
» Utilities Coordination
» Impact Assessment
» Residential Neighborhoods
» Technological Requirements
» Stakeholder Cooperation
» Land Use Planning
Issues/Challenges/Goals
» Truly engage with the public
» Issues with neighbors of projects (free/reduced power???)
» Loss of property tax dollars to County / evaluation of different strategies to provide longterm funding…we will work with Industry/Solar Association on ideas
» How far can we go in pushing the entitlement envelope? Our goal is to complete project level CEQA so only an Administrative Permit/Building Permit is required…
PowerButte: Solar Overlay
http://power.buttecounty.net
Photo courtesy of Shamim Mohamed
A Place For Clean Energy