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Montezuma County workshop reviews model solar siting codes; staff to draft local regulations using Mesa County code as a starting point
Summary
The board reviewed model documents (including Mesa County examples and NREL guidance) on solar siting, decommissioning plans and transfer-of-ownership provisions; commissioners asked staff to incorporate board comments and produce a draft land-use code for future consideration.
Commissioners and staff reviewed several model documents intended to inform a local land-use code for utility-scale solar and energy-storage projects, including a Colorado “solar and energy storage ready” reference and a document titled Solar: From Vision to Code. The materials also referenced a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report and county regulations adopted by Mesa, Fremont and Delta counties.
Commissioner comments focused on a proposed provision that would require county approval or oversight of any transfer of ownership of a solar project so that bonding, decommissioning plans and other conditions would follow a project to a new owner. One commissioner said the provision would help ensure sureties or bonds are transferred or supplied by new owners and allow the county to review proposed buyers’ track records to avoid future defaults.
County staff and legal counsel discussed other items to consider in drafting local code sections, including setbacks, grading, visual impacts, decommissioning plans, sureties and revenue follow-through for the life of a project. Staff noted they had concentrated review on Western Slope counties with recent 2024 regulations and that the state energy office has materials but not a concise land-use template.
Travis and other staff said they will incorporate board comments and prepare a preliminary draft using the Mesa County code as a starting point; staff identified Mika and Sheena to assist with drafting. Commissioners said they expect to read drafts multiple times and revisit specific provisions as the process continues. No formal action was taken in the workshop.
