Title
HEARING - Consider recommendations regarding a Strategic Energy Plan (SEP) Report, as follows: (EST. TIME: 1 HR.)
a) Consider and adopt the SEP for the County of Santa Barbara;
b) Direct Community Services, Planning and Development, General Services and the Office of Emergency Management staff to:
i) Pursue implementation of Phase One recommended actions, including: 1) Develop an Energy Assurance Plan, 2) Develop a Utility Scale Solar Ordinance and; 3) Update the Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones;
ii) Pursue implementation of Phase Two recommended actions, including: 1) Update the Coastal Zoning Ordinance, 2) Establish best practices for solar + storage permitting procedures, 3) Create a one-stop shop education resource and conduct outreach and; 4) Explore a community solar project; and
iii) Return to the Board as needed for further direction or approval prior to implementation; and
c) Determine that the recommended actions do not constitute a project subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4), as the actions are the creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities which do not involve any commitment to any specific project, and Section 15378(b)(5), as the actions are the organizational and administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE