Aspen Assists Counties With Renewable Energy And Conservation Planning
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has issued grants to California counties “for the development or revision of rules and policies that facilitate the development of eligible renewable energy resources, and their associated electric transmission facilities, and the processing of permits for eligible renewable energy resources” (Pub. Res. Code § 25619). Under the Renewable Energy and Conservation Planning Grants (RECPG) Program, the CEC has awarded more than $3 million to six California counties (San Luis Obispo, Inyo, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, and Los Angeles) to update their local plans with long-term renewable energy development and conservation objectives. Aspen and several of its partners have been awarded contracts to work on plans and associated environmental clearance for four of the six chosen counties to support planning efforts.
San Luis Obispo Renewable Energy Streamlining Program (RESP)
In February 2014, Aspen, as a subcontractor to PMC, prepared the County of San Luis Obispo Renewable Energy Streamlining Program (RESP) Opportunities and Constraints Technical Study (OCTS), which uses GIS to identify the County’s renewable energy resources and locations where development of those resources could most feasibly be streamlined while avoiding negative impacts to the environment. For the OCTS, Aspen resource specialists used the spatial data to analyze the relative impacts of small- to medium-scale renewable energy development projects. The spatial data of each resource was then weighted based on how much it would potentially restrict renewable energy development. In association with PMC, Aspen also prepared portions of the RESP EIR, which was published in late 2014.
Inyo County Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment
Inyo County is using its RECPG Program funds to develop a Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment (REGPA), which includes policies for facilitating and locating renewable energy development in the County. In February 2014, to support the REGPA, Aspen, as a subcontractor to Helix Environmental Planning, Inc., prepared an OCTS that outlines key resource and infrastructure requirements and key environmental considerations for renewable energy development within the County. Through the OCTS, Aspen worked collaboratively with the County to identify areas suitable for siting of renewable energy in the County and further refined those areas to Solar Energy Development Areas.
The REGPA EIR was published on November 5, 2014. Aspen prepared the socioeconomics analysis for the REGPA EIR, which provides information on the County’s population, transient housing, local economy, public finance, and federal, State, and local economic regulatory factors and policy incentives. Aspen also prepared the cultural section for the REGPA EIR, including a comprehensive analysis of the existing Inyo County cultural setting and potentially sensitive areas using a predictive model.
San Bernardino Renewable Energy and Conservation General Plan Element
San Bernardino County Land Use Services Department is using its RECPG funds to prepare a General Plan Element focusing on renewable energy and conservation. Aspen, as a subcontractor to PMC, has prepared case studies of renewable energy projects that provide examples of challenges and successes, including economic benefits, for renewable energy resource development. Aspen GIS staff have used renewable energy data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in conjunction with the County-maintained GIS datasets to create dynamic maps illustrating the locations in the County where renewable energy has the most potential for growth. In addition, Aspen has worked with the County and CEC to determine data sources and GIS mapping parameters to prepare renewable energy resources maps to assist in the development of the County’s Renewable Energy Element, and the associated CEQA Program EIR.
Imperial County Renewable Energy and Transmission Element Update
The County of Imperial was the recipient of the CEC grant on July 15, 2013, to update the existing “Geothermal/Alternative Energy & Transmission Element” of the General Plan. Other objectives include the creation of an inventory of baseline information, identifying eligible renewable energy resource opportunities, reviewing State and Federal legislation and policies, reviewing other elements of the General Plan for internal consistency, developing an outreach program, preparing a revised ordinance and renewable energy overlay zone, and prepare the required environmental document.
Aspen, as a subcontractor to PMC, has been tasked with the preparation of a Baseline Environmental Inventory Report. This report will make use of technical memorandums and GIS data from the existing studies being completed under the Geothermal/Alternative Energy Element Update, the DRECP, and other sources as appropriate, and will focus on the issues addressed in the County’s existing Conservation and Open Space Element.