Draft renewable-energy rules prompt comments on soil disturbance, small-system exemptions and Bears Ears protections
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Summary
Bluff presented a draft ordinance to regulate small- and large-scale renewable-energy installations, with SolSmart assisting outreach. Public commenters urged limits on soil disturbance for agricultural lands, de minimis exemptions for sub-1,200 W systems, and explicit protection of Bears Ears National Monument lands from industrial-scale siting.
Planning & Zoning presented a draft renewable-energy ordinance on Oct. 28 to set parameters for rooftop and ground-mounted solar, small wind and other renewable systems. Commissioners said the workstream was done with input from SolSmart and aimed to allow reasonable renewable installations while protecting agricultural lands, scenic values and applicable overlays.
Public commenters supported the basic approach but recommended several changes. Josh Ewing, who works in clean‑energy in his day job, recommended language to minimize soil disturbance on agricultural lands and grazing areas to preserve future agricultural use. He also urged an exemption for very small systems — citing 1,200 watts as an example tied to state-level exemptions — so that small monitoring panels and similar uses would not require a permit. Ewing asked that the ordinance explicitly avoid enabling industrial-scale solar development on lands that are associated with Bears Ears National Monument and suggested excluding monument land from potential large-scale siting recommendations.
Planning & Zoning said the drafts include charts and conditional‑use pathways for larger projects and asked for public feedback; the ordinance remains in legal review and no adoption occurred at the hearing.