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

tsnellings@buttecounty.net

Photo courtesy of Shamim Mohamed

A Place For Clean Energy