How should alternative energy be regulated in Montezuma County? About 80 people showed up to a meeting on that topic held by the county Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday night.
Although the meeting was to take input on future regulations involving any form of alternative energy, the 22 people who came to the podium almost exclusively addressed solar energy.
The county commissioners in April placed a six-month moratorium on large-scale solar projects in order to develop specific regulations on renewable energy for the land-use code.
A number of speakers on Thursday recommended limiting solar projects to land zoned industrial rather than allowing developers to build on ag land through conditional use permits.
Eleanor Macfarlane said renewable-energy facilities should only be allowed on land zoned industrial, perhaps only the land that is currently in that zone
But others said leasing land to solar projects offers a way for farmers to earn extra income.
Roger Fulks of Cortez said he was raised on a local dryland farm and “it’s a tough way to make a living. Where it gets no water it’s hard to make a living.”
Joel Lee of Dolores said he’s had to work two jobs for 25 years to keep his farm and ranch going and that regulations shouldn’t “handcuff” people. “The biggest impact has been development – people moving to this area to love it to death,” Lee said.
Elise Goggin of Mancos said the county needs to consider the economics of solar energy.
“We need large-area solar for it to be fiscally viable,” Goggin said. “If it’s only on industrial land there won’t be any solar, so that would be the same as a moratorium.”
Steve Underwood of Mancos said there are 686,000 acres of farm land in the county and the amount being considered for solar projects is small. “I’m not sure why this is such an issue,” he said.
Erik Henderickson of Cortez concurred. “It’s the future,” he said. “Embrace it.”
But other people voiced concerns about the impacts of large-scale solar projects on wildlife, views, and neighbors.
Some advised regulating the size and density of solar panels, and specifying that solar farms must be a certain distance from people’s residences as well as tourist attractions such as national parks and monuments.
Billy Akers of Cortez asked what people want to see when looking down from a plateau. “Do you want to look down on the beauty that God created or the beauty that man created?” he asked.
Alexia Hudson said she lives beside a 200-acre field that could be covered in solar panels and asked how that would affect her viewshed. She recommended that wildlife migration be considered. “Fencing affects the ecosystem,” she said.
Beth Howell said the noise and hubbub of the construction process will cause wildlife to leave. She also said fire mitigation should be a top priority in the regulations.
Joy Cochran of Pleasant View said developers of solar farms should have to pay for independent studies of the impacts their projects will have. She voiced concern about whether there will be oversight of any requirements put on solar projects.
Landan Wilson of Pleasant View recommended the county hire a code enforcer to make sure developers follow the restrictions placed on them.
Several people said residents who live in municipalities shouldn’t be weighing in.
“Ask the ag people if they want it on ag land. Don’t ask the city people,” Akers said.
Sandie Symons of Pleasant View said neighbors will have to feel the impacts of construction of solar projects. “It’s not going to affect the people in town,” she said.
Many people recommended establishing strict rules for the decommissioning of solar projects and the bonds that would be placed on them.
A frequent recommendation was for the planning commission to look at regulations Mesa County has in place regarding renewable energy.
P&Z Chairman John Hernandez thanked the participants for their comments and said the board members already have a copy of Mesa County's regulations.
