Montezuma County planners seek public input on draft rules for large-scale solar

Montezuma County Planning Commission members opened a public comment session on proposed land use code revisions for alternate energy and large-scale solar projects, taking about an hour of testimony from residents, farmers and developers.

Commissioner Hernandez, a member of the Montezuma County Planning Commission, told the room that a previously proposed 900-acre project "is probably not something that's not gonna fly with this county," and said commissioners want a workable upper limit between the existing 50-acre projects and the larger proposal. He also urged requiring evidence of transmission entitlements and written decommissioning guarantees so cleanup costs do not fall on county residents.

The submissions from more than two dozen speakers outlined recurring concerns and recommendations: set clear size categories for solar installations; require decommissioning plans and inflation-adjusted surety bonds; require evidence of power purchase/offtake or transmission entitlements before permitting; protect agricultural productivity and wildlife corridors; require visual-impact studies and neighbor notification; and define standards for fencing,…