After a lengthy public hearing Tuesday, the Montezuma County commissioners unanimously passed new regulations concerning renewable energy development, particularly solar.
Twenty-nine people gave public comments. They were almost evenly divided on whether the commissioners should adopt the regulations, which will constitute a new chapter in the county land-use code.
In April, the commission enacted a six-month moratorium on utility-scale solar projects. Many people said another moratorium should be enacted. They voiced concerns about oversight and enforcement of the regulations, environmental impacts of large solar projects, and the size of the proposed setback.
Colleen Edwards of Cortez said six already-approved solar projects in the county will create enough power for more than 100,000 homes when the county only has about 10,000. She questioned how much revenue the county will actually gain from such developments.
But other people spoke about the need for alternative and renewable energy and another revenue source. Bob Waggoner of Cortez said he and his wife have 11 great-grandchildren. He said, “Both of us are profoundly concerned about climate change and what the world is going to look like when these grandchildren are adults.”
The commissioners ultimately approved the new regulations after increasing the size of the setback from the proposed 150 feet to 500 feet from neighbors’ property lines.
Gail Binkly is a career journalist who has worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Cortez Journal, and was the editor of the Four Corners Free Press, based in Cortez.