LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is asking the public to speak out at a public hearing set for July 14 to address a new ordinance regulating renewable energy projects for unincorporated areas, including the Antelope Valley.
Proposing regulations for the development of solar and wind energy systems and facilities, the ordinance was recommended for approval by the Regional Planning Commission at its April 22 public hearing.
Now the board of supervisors will consider the effects of the project as outlined in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
The new ordinance outlines definitions, procedures and standards for the review and permitting of small-scale wind and solar energy systems, utility-scale wind and solar energy facilities, and temporary meteorological towers, for unincorporated Los Angeles County.
The renewable energy ordinance (REO) seeks to facilitate California’s goals for meeting energy demand using renewable resources, while minimizing impacts to the environment.
Wanting to regulate these renewable energy projects “in an environmentally and community context-sensitive way,” officials hope to achieve this by first, encouraging small-scale and structure-mounted projects to reduce dependence on ground-mounted utility-scale projects, and second, better regulating ground-mounted utility-scale projects to minimize the associated impacts and address community concerns.
Members of the Regional Planning Commission at their April 22 meeting addressed concerns over ground-mounted utility-scale projects – which would be allowed for some areas – providing comprehensive regulations in the ordinance to address specific issues, such as dust control, water use, aesthetics, impacts on living organisms, and safety.
Selected materials on the ordinance are available to the public at www.Planning.LACounty.gov/energy, and the Regional Planning Commission’s April 22 Draft REO Package may be viewed at www.Planning.LACounty.gov.
Written documents in favor or opposed to the project may be submitted to the Zoning Section, Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors, Room 383, 500 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or by email at [email protected]. Indicate Project No. R2014-01160 in the “Subject.”
The public hearing takes place on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 9:30 a.m., in Room 381B of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, located at 500 West Temple Street in Los Angeles.
Members of the public may view a live broadcast of the meeting at www.BOS.LACounty.gov/BoardMeeting, or listen by phone at 877-873-8017 (access code is 111111 for English).
Antelope Valley residents may view a live broadcast of the meeting at the Lancaster Library, located at 601 W. Lancaster Blvd. in Lancaster, and citizens may also address the board during the meeting at the library’s location. Call 661-948-5029 for more information.
The public may also receive more information by contacting Jay Lee of the Department of Regional Planning at 213-974-6476, or by email at [email protected].
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