Bluff planners seek rules for rooftop and ground renewables; commenters urge soil protections and small-system exemptions

Bluff planners presented a draft renewable-energy ordinance at a public hearing Oct. 28 that would establish parameters for rooftop and ground-mounted solar, wind and geothermal projects. Staff said the draft was prepared with assistance from SolSmart and includes charts setting permitted locations, conditional-use thresholds and project-size categories.

The presentation framed the ordinance as "catching up" with projects already on private roofs and yards and preparing for future community-scale projects. Staff emphasized the rules are intended to allow residents to use renewables while setting standards for larger installations.

Public comments from Joshua Ewing, who said he does clean-energy work professionally, urged language to minimize soil disturbance on agricultural lands to protect grazing and prevent irreversible scraping of sensitive soils. Ewing also recommended exempting very small systems from permitting requirements (he cited an example discussed in testimony of a 1,200-watt threshold for simplified handling) so small fans or monitoring stations would not require formal permits. Finally, he asked that the draft not be read to support industrial-scale solar development in the Bears Ears National Monument area and noted that the town does not control federal lands.

Staff asked for written feedback through Nov. 7 and said they would refine the charts and conditional-use examples based on comments and legal review.