POWERBUTTE WORKSHOP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AUGUST 25, 2015 SOLAR OVERLAY ZONE
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POWERBUTTEWORKSHOP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORSAUGUST 25, 2015
SOLAR OVERLAY ZONE
PowerButte: Solar Overlay
hamim Mohamed
A Place For Clean Energy
PresentationOverview
o Introductiono Contexto Solar Overlay Goals and Processo Vision and Guiding Principles
Introduction
Introduction
100 MW near Ontario, Canada
Introduction
PGE 27 MW near city of Lemoore, CA
Introduction
88 MW south of Sacramento, CA
Introduction
5 MW atop San Francisco water reservoir
California Renewable Portfolio Standard
o Achieve 33% of State energy from renewables by 2020o Vision/Goal from Governor Brown: 12,000 megawatts (MW) by
2020
o 1 MW = power to 250‐500 homeso 1 MW requires 4–8 acres (or about 3–6 football fields)o 12,000 MW x 6 acres = 72,000 acres
or 48,000 new football fields Statewide
1 Acre
Emerging Trends
o Evolving electrical grid
o Distributed power generation
o Power flowing both ways
o Vehicles and residential batteries store power
o Increased local generation, control over, and responsibility for power generation and consumption
Lessons Learned – Other Counties
o Key public concerns: aesthetics/glare, environmental impacts, agricultural impacts, land use compatibility, property values, obsolescence/disposal
o Strategies: site design standards and mitigations, development regulations, education/outreach
o Community goals: economy/jobs, setting a good example, energy independence, regulations that mitigate impacts, streamlined permitting benefits
Lessons Learned – Other Counties
A Few Facts:
o Kern County: Permitted 9,182 MW of renewable energy countywide (City, Water District, schools) with rooftop, distributed generation (DG) and utility scale wind and solar
o Of the 9,182 MW – 4,950 MW is solar of all types
o Right now, Kern has another 3 solar projects going to the Planning Commission (total 700 MW)
Renewable Energy in Butte County
o Jan. 2011‐May 2015: 1,725 solar permits (over $65M value)
o 832 permits issued for rooftop solar last year
o Butte College: Aspires to be first grid‐neutral
college in the US
Goals of the Solar Overlay
o Maximize benefits to Butte County residents
o Identify optimal locations for renewable energy generation
o Minimize potential impacts and conflicts
o Protect natural resources and prime farmland
o Provide clarity and efficiency
o Streamline permitting and approval
o Contribute to statewide goals
o Implement the General Plan and
CAP, which mandate PowerButte
Benefits of the Solar Overlay
How will the overlay benefit Butte County residents?o Promotes renewable energy alternatives and reduces
dependence on fossil fuelso Diversifies local electrical grido Eliminates red tape and cuts costs for solar energyo Plans ahead to avoid impacts from
new energy infrastructureo Supports local green jobso Lowers electricity costs with
increased supply (statewide)o Others?
Solar Overlay Policy Background
PowerButte Components:o Solar Overlay Zoneo Community Choice
Energy (CCE) o Property Assessed Clean
Energy (PACE) Programo Rooftop Solaro CAP monitoring and
implementation
Solar Overlay Process
o Task 1: Gather Data
o Task 2: Create a Vision
o Task 3: Analyze Data
o Task 4: Explore Concepts
o Task 5: Draft the Overlay
o Task 6: Conduct Environmental Review
o Task 7: Revise and Adopt Overlay
Gathering Data
o Exclude areas that are not appropriate for utility‐scale solar
o Identify areas that are advantageous
o Evaluate opportunities and constraints through GIS analysis
o Filter analysis results based on community input to reflect community priorities
Public Involvement
o Community Workshops
o Stakeholder Group
o Online input: buttecounty.granicusideas.com
o Planning Commission
o Board of Supervisors
Creating the Vision
o Community Workshop #1• Oroville: June 10, 2015• Chico: June 11, 2015• About 50 participants
o PowerButte online survey• buttecounty.granicusideas.com• Over 60 responses to date
o Planning Commission Meeting: July 30, 2015
Workshop Questions and Online Survey
1. What benefits of solar energy are most important to you?
2. What potential negative impacts of solar energy are of greatest concern?
a. What impacts should be studied before granting a permit?
b. How can impacts be minimized?
3. Where are the most appropriate places in Butte County for new solar energy installations? What places should be avoided?
4. How can solar installations preserve compatibility with agricultural operations?
Public Feedback
o Benefits: • Lower utility bills• Clean/renewable energy
o Concerns: • Aesthetic impacts• Impacts to agricultural and biological resources• Reduced property values nearby
o Mitigation Approaches:• Design to minimize visibility• Focus on areas already impacted• Appropriate regulations, standards, and permit
processes
Public Feedback
o Places to Target for Overlay: • Areas not suitable for agriculture or development• Existing structures (e.g. rooftops and parking lots)• Disturbed/impacted land• Near energy infrastructure• Area between Highways 70 and 99, near PG&E facility
o Places to Avoid: • Agricultural, biological, and scenic resource areas• Near residences
o Compatibility with Agriculture:• Solar shade structures for cattle• Avoid sensitive agriculture areas
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. Locally‐produced clean energy also supports an affordable and reliable power network for local residences, businesses and agricultural operations as well as throughout the state. 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 communities, residential neighborhoods, and cities.
Draft Guiding Principles
o Open and Transparent Process
o Agriculture
o Biological Resources
o Scenic Quality
o Property Owner Coordination
o Local Preferences
o Broadly Shared Benefits
o Permit Streamlining
o Utilities Coordination
o Impact Assessment
o Residential Neighborhoods
o Technological Requirements
o Stakeholder Cooperation
o Land Use Planning
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