4e) Discussion and Possible Action to Direct County Counsel to Prepare an Urgency Ordinance and Declaration of Emergency or Alternative Regarding Climate Change and Exempt or Provide Waiver for Rooftop Solar Panels from Planning Review in All Zoning, Maintaining Building Permit Requirement; and Direct Staff to Author and Send a Letter Requesting the California Coastal Commission Reform Coastal Act Implementation to Exempt Solar Panels
(Sponsors: Supervisor Williams and Supervisor Gjerde)
Thankfully, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has responded over the past few years to the increasingly perilous threats that the climate crisis presents to our County.
From declaring a Climate Emergency to unanimously passing the Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plan which directed County staff to find funding for solar on County buildings, replace County vehicles with an EV fleet, install charging stations to power the fleet and use EV buses for the MTA. We acknowledge and regret that it is a slow process to institute these actions. Yet no delay is acceptable given our current climate threats that are increasing every day. We must act quickly with flexibility in county policies in order to adapt to rapidly changing climate conditions.
With that in mind Item 4e on the Board agenda is important. The County has already adopted the Solar + APP that streamlines solar panel permitting. With that process in place and an Urgency Ordinance and Declaration of Emergency the County can proceed with requesting the CA Coastal Commission to exempt Solar Panels and quickly expedite the process to obtain building permits to install solar on County buildings.
Solar with battery storage is a dependable source of electrical power that cuts the skyrocketing utility costs for the County and also provides power during more frequent, unexpected power shutdowns. Funding is now available through the Inflation Reduction Act and several state programs. Time is of the essence while these funds are available for installing solar and storage.
This is also a good time to reflect on the WillDan report that lists utility cost savings and carbon reduction. There are a few climate groups in the county that are more than willing to help with changing lightbulbs to LEDs in County buildings, soliciting bids to install heat pumps for heating and cooling in County buildings, following up with Enterprise Leasing to provide the County with plug-in hybrid and/or EV vehicles, getting EV charging stations installed and obtaining funding for smaller EV vans and buses for MTA use - all part of the Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plan you passed that will save the County money and get us to Net Zero Carbon Reduction more quickly. If staff is interested please let us know.
Thankfully, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has responded over the past few years to the increasingly perilous threats that the climate crisis presents to our County.
From declaring a Climate Emergency to unanimously passing the Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plan which directed County staff to find funding for solar on County buildings, replace County vehicles with an EV fleet, install charging stations to power the fleet and use EV buses for the MTA. We acknowledge and regret that it is a slow process to institute these actions. Yet no delay is acceptable given our current climate threats that are increasing every day. We must act quickly with flexibility in county policies in order to adapt to rapidly changing climate conditions.
With that in mind Item 4e on the Board agenda is important. The County has already adopted the Solar + APP that streamlines solar panel permitting. With that process in place and an Urgency Ordinance and Declaration of Emergency the County can proceed with requesting the CA Coastal Commission to exempt Solar Panels and quickly expedite the process to obtain building permits to install solar on County buildings.
Solar with battery storage is a dependable source of electrical power that cuts the skyrocketing utility costs for the County and also provides power during more frequent, unexpected power shutdowns. Funding is now available through the Inflation Reduction Act and several state programs. Time is of the essence while these funds are available for installing solar and storage.
This is also a good time to reflect on the WillDan report that lists utility cost savings and carbon reduction. There are a few climate groups in the county that are more than willing to help with changing lightbulbs to LEDs in County buildings, soliciting bids to install heat pumps for heating and cooling in County buildings, following up with Enterprise Leasing to provide the County with plug-in hybrid and/or EV vehicles, getting EV charging stations installed and obtaining funding for smaller EV vans and buses for MTA use - all part of the Net Zero Carbon Reduction Plan you passed that will save the County money and get us to Net Zero Carbon Reduction more quickly. If staff is interested please let us know.
Thank you for all you do.