HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-163 r d i e r
rr
r �
i ,ir J
/r
r /
1.
a
l
rr/„ r, ,• ✓/� ✓r/ ///1. / ar v rrr
1 / // r / � r,r ✓,r
�;., � �( ,?4`t;. l;„J, /�i��' �N { ,� r � rr; „/,/,. �. l!, ",� �r,• rr i � -���f/�ft)�I�r l/ /, �,
/ir„�
F
1�. ��/�1/����i'�iyi� r r� , ,, ,,,,,r/ � r j a ����vl,., �,./,.l/r,✓r�iri,.,rr�J����r,///a/���i��.����i�r�� ��r �ir/,r!
q
Resolution No. 17-163
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE "BUTTE UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR GUIDE”AND (RELATED MAPPING TOOL AND SUITABILITY
MODEL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT AND INCENTIVES PROGRAM
ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION'.
WHEREAS,the Beard of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution No. 14-013 on February 11, 2014 approving
the filing of an application for the Renewable Energy Overlay Zone project under the 2014 Sustainable Communities
Planning Grant and Incentives Program administered by the Department of Conservation; and
WHEREAS,this grant application (#3014-608)was awarded through the Strategic Growth Council to Butte County
on June 3, 2014; and
WHEREAS, as part of its PowerButte initiative, Butte County began a process to investigate the development of
utility-scale solar facilities in 2015. This process is intended to buildupon the framework for renewable energy
development established by the County's General Plan and Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, over the ensuing months, Development Services staff, working with PlaceWorks consulting, followed
a process for developing this project in accordance with the awarded grant, which included a substantial public outreach
effort, the development of the power.buttecounty.net website and a variety of other work products; and
WHEREAS, as part of this project's outreach,the County met three times with a group of expert local stakeholders
representing a wide variety of interests, and hosted a series of five community workshops held between lune 2015 and
May 2016, to craft a shared vision for Butte County's future with respect to utility-scale solar facilities, as well as a set of
guiding principles,for implementation of that vision; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission reviewed, refined, and accepted a Vision
Statement and Guiding Principles for this project at meetings held on July 30, 2015 and August 25, 2015;. and
WHEREAS, during extensive public outreach proceedings, agricultural interests, farmers and ranchers voiced
concerns about the potential to develop utility-scale solar facilities as-of-right and not subject to a conditional use permit,
as well as the potential loss of grazing lands from utility-scale solar development, further indicating than the economic
benefits of the County's valuable winter grazing lands outweigh the benefits of solar development, and that utility-scale
solar facilities limit rangeland production and groundwater recharge; and
WHEREAS,the project was subsequently re-conceptualized as the Butte Utility-Scale Solar Guide,which compiles
the vision, guiding principles, research, mapping, and analysis that had been completed in the project's first phase into a
user-friendly document that informs the public about the regulatory and technical context for large-scale solar facilities,
how these facilities can be developed in ways to minimize impacts, and in consideration of site opportunities, constraints,
the permitting process, and possible future approaches and trends, as well as maintaining the existing requirement for a
conditional use permit; and
WHEREAS, the project includes a utility-scale solar mapping tool accessible to the public online, which helps to
identify optimal sites for the development Dfutility scale solar development, The [napping tOp| displays many different
geographic factors that can affect the suitability of a site for solar facility development and includes a suitability model.
The tool and model provides information on constraints, limitations, and opportuinities for solar facility development in
Butte County; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte Utility-Scale Solar Guide is a component of the PovverBmYte initiative and is a resource to
anyone interested in, utility-scale solar facilities within unincorporated Butte County, imc�ludiog landowners, developers,
community members,County decisinn'makers,and staff, This Guide also provides general information about solar energy
and sets a framework for the consideration of utility-scale solar facilities in Butte County; and,
WHEREAS, the Butte Uti|ity+5ca,|e Solar Guide supports Butte County's strong commitment to sustainability and
the County's and State's greenhouse gas reduction strategies and goals as set forth under the County General Plan and
Climate Action Plan and the County; and,
WHEREAS,The Butte CoumtyPlanning Commission recommended approval ofthe Butte Utility Scale Solar Guide
and Mapping tool atapublic hearing held mnAugust 10, 3017.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the, Butte Utility-Scale Solar Guide will be included as an online resource,
and available in print and electronic copies for distribution to stakeholders and the pob�Uc. Further, references,and access
to the Guide shall be, made available through Butte County's economic development strategy, marketing materials, and
outreach 10businesses; and,
BE |TFURTHER RESOLVED that the Board nfSupervisors approves the Butte Utility-Scale Solar Guide and related
mapping tool and suitability model as included in the September 26, 2017 Board of Supervisors Staff Report and that these
approved work products represent the Final Report to the Department of Conservation submitted in full performance
with the obligations under the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentives Program.
PASSED AND ADOPTED bvthe Board nfSupervisors ofthe County nfButte, State ofCalifornia,ormiaonthis26 day of
September, ZO17, bvthe following vote:
AYES:Supervisors Wahl, Kirk, Lambert,Teeter, and Chair Connelly
NOES: None
/\BSENT: Nome
NOT VOTING: None
Bill Connelly, Chair
Butte County Board ofSupervisors
ATTEST:
Paul �Hahn, Chief Administrative Officer
aindClerk nfthe Board ofSupervisors