Department of Land Conservation and Development Oregon 635 Capitol Street NE, Suite 150 Salem, Oregon 97301-2540 Kate Brown, Governor Phone: (503) 373-0050 Fax: (503) 378-5518 www.oregon.gov/LCD July12, 2018 TO: Land Conservation and Development Commission FROM: Jim Rue, Director Ellen Miller, Urban Policy Analyst and Legislative Coordinator SUBJECT: Agenda Item 6 July 26-27, 2018, LCDC Meeting TEMPORARY RULEMAKING RELATING TO SIZE OF SOLAR AND POWER GENERATION FACILITIES ON FARMLAND I. AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY This agenda item is for the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC or commission) to consider adoption of a temporary rule amending OAR 660-033-0130, “Minimum Standards Applicable to the Schedule of Permitted and Conditional Uses.” This rule implements Statewide Planning Goal 3, “Agricultural Land.” The purpose of the proposed amendment is to restate the original intent of the rule in regard to size of solar and other power generation facilities sited on farmland without a goal exception. The proposed amendment applies to commercial projects only. Adoption of a temporary rule amendment will not impact the schedule or the scope of the solar siting rulemaking as defined in the 2017-19 Policy Agenda. For further information about this report, please contact Ellen Miller, Legislative Coordinator and Urban Policy Analyst at 503-934-0020, or at
[email protected]. II. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION The department recommends that the commission adopt temporary rule amendments to limit the siting of power generation facilities, including solar arrays, to facilities that occupy no more than 12 acres on high value farmland, 20 acres on arable farmland, and 320 acres on nonarable farmland, unless an exception is taken.