Bluff planners seek rules for rooftop and ground renewable projects; commenters urge soil protections, small‑system exemptions and limits near Bears Ears

Planning and zoning presented a draft renewable‑energy ordinance intended to set parameters for rooftop and ground‑mounted solar, small wind and geothermal installations and to align Bluff with SolSmart program guidance. Commissioners said the ordinance uses zoning charts and conditional‑use frameworks to indicate where different scales of projects would be appropriate and pointed to SolSmart assistance to help Bluff reach technical benchmarks.

Public commenter Josh Ewing, who identified his background in clean‑energy work, urged several changes: add language requiring minimal soil disturbance on agricultural lands to avoid permanent loss of agricultural use; exempt small off‑grid systems under an identified wattage threshold so homeowners need not obtain building permits for very small equipment; and exclude industrial‑scale renewable development from Bears Ears National Monument areas (noting the town does not manage federal lands but that a future excision could raise policy questions). He recommended using a 1,200‑watt threshold as a reference for small systems that can be treated differently from larger grid‑tied installations.

Commissioners said the charts guiding allowed locations may need refinement and asked for public input on whether the ordinance would unduly restrict homeowner and small‑scale uses. The ordinance remains a draft and staff requested written comments through Nov. 7, 2025.