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Board declines immediate support for irrigation district’s Ochoco floating‑solar grant request, asks for public review
Summary
County staff brought a request from irrigation districts for a letter of support for a floating solar grant at the Ochoco reregulation reservoir; commissioners advised caution and urged the project go through planning and public review before the board provides formal support.
County staff reported that multiple irrigation districts asked the board for a letter of support for a floating solar grant to install a roughly 3‑acre floating photovoltaic array at the base of the Ochoco reregulation dam. Staff said the project would generate an estimated 1,300,000 kilowatt‑hours (annual output stated as "1,300,000 kilowatts" in the presentation; staff clarified it is an energy output figure for the array) and could serve about 100 local households and businesses, including provisions for low‑ and moderate‑income customers; power would be supplied to local Pacific Power customers.
Several commissioners recommended caution before issuing a letter of support. Commissioners noted the project will proceed through the county’s planning process and that issuing a preemptive letter of support for a grant could be viewed as prejudging future land‑use approval. One commissioner suggested the board defer a letter until the planning review and public comment take place.
Staff said the project is small‑scale and local in reach but confirmed it will go through planning review; the board’s consensus was to postpone a formal letter of support until the application process advances and the public has an opportunity to weigh in.
Ending: Staff will inform the irrigation districts that the board prefers to await planning review and public input before offering formal support; no board commitment of financial support was discussed.
