California County Plans for Renewable Energy

Illustration by Albert Galindo

Assembly Bill x1 13 (Perez, Chapter 10, Statutes of 2011-12 First Extraordinary Session) added Section 25619 to the Public Resources Code directing the California Energy Commission to provide up to seven million dollars in grants to qualified California counties. The grant money can be used for the development or revision of rules and policies, such as general plan elements, zoning ordinances, and natural community conservation plans that facilitate the development of eligible renewable energy resources and the associated electric transmission facilities, and the processing of permits for eligible renewable energy resources. The funding of local agency planning efforts facilitated by this legislation is referred to as the State of California Renewable Energy and Conservation Grant (RECPG) Program.

The San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department has used its RECPG funds to prepare a Renewable Energy and Conservation Element. The County’s effort is referred to as the San Bernardino County Partnership for Renewable Energy & Conservation (SPARC). The County received two rounds of RECPG funds for SPARC Phase 1 and SPARC Phase 2 (referred to as REVEAL [Renewable Energy Value-added Evaluation and Augmentation Leadership]). The goal of SPARC Phase 2 is to evaluate the costs and benefits to the County of the renewable energy direction guided by SPARC Phase 1. Aspen Environmental Group has served as the technical consultant to the County during both phases, and led up the Phase 2 effort by preparing the REVEAL Initiative Report (currently in the administrative draft review phase at the County). The report presents an evaluation of the social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits (often referred to as the triple-bottom-line [TBL] approach) of renewable energy development within the County with a focus on community-oriented renewable energy development.

In its continued renewable energy planning efforts, the County selected the Aspen Team (which included Life Cycle Associates, LLC, Collaborative Economics, and Essergy Consulting) for SPARC Phase 2 because of the Team’s following particular skillsets:

  • A strong economic and scientific research team with experience in the field of renewable energy (RE) technology to provide a quantitative analysis of applicable RE costs and benefits.

  • A broad perspective and understanding of the opportunities and constraints created by State RE policy directives and their effects on federal, State, and local government control of private lands.

  • Experience with the complex issues and conflicting goals facing the County as it moves toward establishing RE policy directives, and the ability to be impartial in its assessments.

  • Understanding of the RE industry and the technical challenges faced by both utility companies and private investment in attempting to implement these directives.

SPARC Phase 2 also included an intensive and wide-reaching community outreach effort. This effort focused on identifying the social, environmental, and economic costs and benefits of renewable energy development, along with identifying tools for implementation of community-oriented renewable energy, including various potential types of organizations (e.g., CCAs [Community Choice Aggregation], micro-grids, co-ops, etc.). Thus far, efforts have included (1) 10 stakeholder interviews (2) two policy focus group meetings, (3) five community outreach workshops, and (4) a Countywide Webinar Workshop to examine in greater detail the tools available in support of community-oriented renewable energy generation. Aspen assisted the County with the planning and implementation of all aspects of the SPARC Phase 2 community outreach efforts to support the preparation of the REVEAL Initiative Report.

Currently, the County is making progress toward formulating its Renewable Energy and Conservation Element supported by the SPARC Phase 2 efforts.

Aspen Environmental Group

Aspen Environmental Group has offered diverse environmental services since 1991, including compliance, impact assessment, and mitigation for infrastructure, public works, and industrial projects. Our mission involves enhancing the understanding of human-environment interaction, delivering sustainable solutions for economic progress, and promoting diversity within our workforce through inclusive programs. Learn more

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