For Today…21 st Century Gold Rush Development in the Golden State Cal APA Palm Desert, October 24, 2012 Panel Participants and Roles

Name Panel Role Tim Snellings Moderator, Intro Planning Director, Butte County Alex Hinds Greenhouse Gas Sonoma State University's Center for Background 2 Sustainable Communities; Former Marin County Planning Director Susan Lee Solar Project Impacts and Vice President; Aspen Environmental Status Group Jennifer Barrett Description of Model Deputy Director for Planning Ordinance Sonoma County Questions

1. Do you have a sense of where CA is gggoing? 2. Do you know where to get the Guidance Document, Model Ordinance & Permitting Guide?

3. Would writing an Energy Overlay for part of your 3 jurisdiction be appropriate? 4. What do you think of the Tiered Permitting strategy for SEFs? 5. How should Solar work with Env? 6. How should Solar work with Ag? 7. Other ????? Today’ s Goals

• Tim…what ’ s happening in CA, BHAGs, Challenges, CCPDA • Alex…Climate Change/GHG…really? • Susan…The new “Gold Rush” • Jennifer…CCPDA response • OPR effort…Permitting • …”lively discussion” CA ‐ The World Leader Again

• From the Solar Perspective, CA is THE right place (geographically) • A crisis is a terrible thing to waste – Energy • State Leadership • Local/State Partnership • …it’s not just about Solar… CA ‐ The World Leader Again BHAG’s – Big Hairy Audacious Goals • CA’s main challenge is to ensure adequate electricity supplies while reducing greenhouse gas emissions as directed by AB 32 (1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050) ‐ CAPs • Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), 's goal was to increase the amount of electricity generatdted from resources to 20% by 2010 and in 2011 legislation passed that pushes that goal to 33% by 2020 (y(currently at 17%) • RPS ‐ 12,000 MW of DG by 2020 • 1.5 million PEV by 2025 BHAG’s – Big Hairy Audacious Goals Just the Facts: • California's 20‐year‐old Zero Emissions Vehicle (()ZEV) mandate is about to ratchet up the stakes for automakers. • Phase 3 of the regulation will require 151.5 million battery and fuel‐cell electric vehicles by 2025 and likely will spur introduction of the vehicles in other states. • EV owners drive their cars an average of 26 miles per day and charge their vehicles primarily at night. • Californians own more than 12,000 (Plug In Electric Vehicle (PEVs), roughly 35% of all such vehicles in the U.S. Moreover, since July 2012, approximately 1,000 new PEVs are being sold in the state every month. BHAG’s –Big Hairy Audacious Goals BHAG’s –Big Hairy Audacious Goals Challenges/Opportunities

• The rules and regulations in CA are confusing • It is hard to get a permit to construct a new solar project in CA • There is no consensus on where solar PV projects should be installed in CA • Issues related to Ag & Env conflicts • Cities/Counties don’t understand how solar works … they need training CCPDA & OPR

• Need for streamlined Planning Process in CA … CCPDA to the rescue • Need for streamlined Building Permit Process in CA … OPR to the rescue CCPDA & OPR Going Sol?lar? Getting to Yes

Alex Hinds, SSU Center for Sustainable Communities Cal‐ APA Annual Conference October 23, 2012 Our Role as Planners

• Educa te • Convene • Lead • Regulate & Reward Why Solar Is Important

• Energy Independence • Economic Development • Offic ia l Ca liforn ia Laws & Polic ies • Environmental & Climate Change Mitigation “Planning is best done in advance…” - Anonymous

2012 – Warmest On Record According to NOAA 'State Of The Climate' Reports

And Wildfires in Western US have increased 4‐fold in 30 years... Slide: John Holdren

SfSurface MltMelt on Greenland

MltMelt dddiescending into a moulin, a vertical shaft carrying water to ice sheet base.

Source: Roger Braithwaite, University of Manchester (UK) Adapting to Climate Change: Sea Level Rise in SF Bay Climate Refugees‐A United NtiNations Respons ibility?

By: Emily Bridgewater B.A. Global Studies Predicted California Impacts • Temperature increase of 3.0 – 10.4 °F • 30‐90% loss in Sierra snow pack • 3 + ft of Sea level rise • Up to 50% increase in number critically dry years • 3‐ 20% increase in electricity demand • 10‐35% increase in the risk of large fires • Significant impacts to Agriculture Energy Independence? RdReduce DDdemand, Increase SlSupply

Boston Launches Positive E + Green Building Demo Program Sustainable Technologies Energy Guru Dan K’Kammen’s Top Pick s •#1 High Tech Solar ‐ Nano PV & solar concentrating dish • #2 E‐Gitneys ‐ Biogas powered jitneys • #3 Urban Farming ‐ Dynaponics, rooftop & vertical farming • #4 Bio Char ‐ Organic waste incineration & flfertilizer California Legislature Adopts 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2020

• SB 2X, passed March 29, 2011 • Signals State commitment to renewable • Highest State Standard in USA - except for Hawaii’s – 40% renewable by 2030. •Wind •Biofuel •Biomass •Geothermal •Solar

All of the Above Renewable Energy: All of the Below Solar: Getting to Yes The Challenge

How to: • Incentivize the rapid expansion of solar energy • Protect important agricultural lands and wildlife habitat areas • Provide timely and cost‐effective permits • Comply with changing market conditions as well as complex lllocal and state regulliations Our Consensus

• Focus on incentives for complying projects to receive expedite d permit processing • Provide a helpful guide, not just an ordinance • Includes standards for smaller projects (< 20 acres) to receive administrative/minor permits • Chart a pathway for larger projects Moving from planning to implementation Contact Information: Alex Hinds Center for Sustainable Communities, Dept of Environmental Studies and Planning Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA [email protected]

Special thanks to Emily Bridgewater, Jeff Loux, SF Bay Conservation & Development Commission Climate Protection Campaign Overview of Solar Projects in California

Susan Lee, Aspen Environmental Group Overview

• Solar basics • Photos & descriptions of solar technologies

• Lead agencies & jurisdictions 36 • Status of solar project applications in California The Basics of Solar • Utility scale solar • Generation large enough to sell to a utility under a Power Purchase Agreement • Usually considered to be facilities >10 or 20 MW

• One megawatt (MW) powers 240‐300 homes 37 • A 20 MW plant powers 4,800‐6,000 homes • A 500 MW solar plant powers 120,000 ‐150,000 homes • Solar facilities require from 4.5 to 13 acres per MW • A 1 MW facility is the size of a couple football fields • A 20 MW solar plant requires about 160 acres • A 500 MW solar plant requires 3,000 to 5,000 acres 38 39 A “Small” Solar Project 40

64 MW on 400 acres (6% of the 1,000 MW Blythe Solar project) Parabolic Trough Technology 41 42 Photovoltaic Technology

First Solar thin film fixed tilt panels (Eldorado, NV) 43

SunPower tracking solar photovoltaic panels Dual-axis trackers Ammonix Concentrated SolarPower

44 Solar ‐ Jurisdictions under CEQA & NEPA

• Federal: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issues right‐ of‐way grants for use of public lands . Lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act, and other federal law compliance 45 • State: California Energy Commission (CEC) certifies thermal power plants 50 megawatts or greater . Lead agency California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) . Note: CEC has no jurisdiction over PV projects unless they were first approved as thermal • Local: Counties issue Conditional Use Permits . Solar photovoltaic projects or solar thermal less than 50 megawatts Utility Scale Solar in California

Several waves of applications 1. First generation –Large solar thermal on public lands (2007‐2010: ARRA Funding) 46 2. Second generation –Large solar PV inland valleys (SLO, San Benito) (2009‐2010) 3. Third generation –Smaller solar PV in central valley (2010‐2012) 4. NOW: First generation changing to PV Largest Solar PV Projects • BLM approved – under construction: • Desert Sunlight (450 MW) • San Luis Obispo County approved & under construction: • SunPower California Valley Solar Ranch (250 MW) • First Solar (550 MW)

• San Benito County approved (needs NEPA and PPA): 47 • Solargen Panoche Valley Solar Farm (400 MW) • Kern County considering: • JLB Maricopa Sun Solar Complex Project (700 MW) • Renewable Resources Group Antelope Valley Solar by (650 MW) • San Bernardino County considering: • (300 MW) –joint CEQA/NEPA with BLM CEQA Documents for Solar Projects (Selected Counties )

Lead Agency CEQA Process Project Size or Total 6 MNDs Imperial County 2140 MW Approved 10 EIRs 7 EIRs (some on multiple Kern County 1942 MW Approved projects)

Tulare County 6 MNDs 20‐60 MW 48 7 MNDs 2‐40 MW San Bernardino County 1 EIR 300 MW Kings County 2 MNDs 9‐39 MW

Sacramento County 4 MNDs 4‐15 MW Ca Energy Commission >4200 MW Approved 11 CEQA equivalent docs (solar thermal) 620 MW under construction Primary Environmental Impacts . Biological Resources . Loss of habitat and individuals (wildlife, plants) . Agricultural Land . Visual Resources . Cultural Resources . Soil and Water Resources . Changes in surface water flow . Use of groundwater for dust control & panel washing . Multiple Resource Use Limitations . Projects will be completely fenced Other CEQA Issues . Cumulative Effects . Consideration of other renewable projects in similar habitats . Indirect Impacts . Transmission line upgrades, water facilities . Alternatives . Offsite alternatives . Private land / disturbed land . RfitiReconfiguration of projjtect components . Reduced acreage alternatives . Distributed / rooftop Conclusions . High priority projects at state and federal levels to meet GHG reduction goals . Mitigation and permitting requirements are substantial . Many analysis procedures have been developed in the past 3 years . New technology at this scale means that design changes freqyquently after approval Solar Energy Facilities Permit Streamlining Guide JifJennifer Barrett, Sonoma County Solar Energy Facilities

• Permit Streamlining Guide • Permit Streamlining Ordinance • Renewable Energy Combining Zone • SlSales Tax AtAgreement • Developer Agreement • Financial Assurance • Use Permit Conditions www.ccppgda.org/solar Permitting Guide

• Interconnection • Protecting Farmlands • Biotic Resources • Scenic and Historic Resources • Decommissioning • Financial Assurance • Abandoned Facilities SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES • Statewide model ordinance • Encourages roof‐mounted • Over Required Parking • On‐site/Di rec t Use • All zone districts Model Ordinance Model Ordinance • Permitted for Direct Use • RftRooftops • Parking Areas • ½ ac ground mounts • Accessory Use 15% of parcel • Administrative Permit • Secondary Use 30% of parcel • Minor Use Permit/Admin Permit • Primary use size thresholds • CdiilConditional Use PPi/Miermit/Minor Use PPiermit Model Ordinance

• Setbacks • Height Limits • Rihight to Farm • Avoid Septic Systems/leachfields • Floodplain Safety • Development Standards • Abandonment Model Ordinance

• Agricultural Protections • Avoid Important Farmlands • Prime, statewide importance and unique farmlands

• Williamson Act • Compatible Use • 15% up to 5 acres on prime • 30% up to 10 acres on non‐prime Model Ordinance • Visual/Aesthetics • Site bhidbehind vegettitation /topograp hy • Motion sensor lights only • No advertising • Fencing and landscaping to buffer residential • Scenic Areas • Shield from view to extent practicable • Underground Power Lines • Biotic Resources • Avoid or require use permit Renewable Energy Combining Zone • Enables Large Scale Facilities

• Limited Areas Minimize CliCumulative Impacts

• Siting and Designation Criteria Combining Zone • 30 ac site area Allowed as Permitted Use • Development Standddards • Visual/Aesthetics Landscape Screening • Scenic or Hiiistoric Requires Design Review • Important Farmlands Set Aside, Fees, Joint Use • Biotic Resource Protections Combining Zone Standards • Grading and Access • Erosion and Sediment Control • Cultural Resource Protection • Fire Protection • Transmission/Interconnection Facilities • Fencing and Signs • Decommiiission ing • Financial Assurance • Workforce Development Development Standards

• Visual/Aesthetics • LdLandscape SiScreening • Scenic or Historic Requires • Design Review • Important Farmlands Mitigation • Agricultural Management Plan • Dedication of Conservation Easement CCPDA Solar Energy Facility (SEF) Permit Streamlining Guide & Model Ordinance http://www.ccpda.org/solar OPR Solar Permitting Guidebook http://www.ccpda.org /solar Questions

1. Do you have a sense of where CA is gggoing? 2. Do you know where to get the Model Ord, Guidance Doc, Permitting Guide? 3. Would writing an Energy Overlay for part of your 67 jurisdiction be appropriate? 4. What do you think of the Tiered Permitting strategy for SEFs? 5. How should Solar work with Env? 6. How should Solar work with Ag? 7. On this issue, Which will you do?: Lead, follow or get out of the way? As CA goes, so goes the world?

• Go and change the world… now… today… 68 Contact Us:

• Tim: [email protected] • Alex: • Susan: 69 • Jennifer: