The Lake County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved formation of an ad hoc Lake County Energy Policy Committee on Jan. 6, creating a staff-and-supervisor group to craft a county-level approach to energy development and policy. The motion passed 5-0 and the board appointed Supervisors Pyska and Owen as the two supervisor representatives.

Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein framed the proposal as follow-up to earlier 2025 discussions about community choice aggregation (CCA) and new developer interest in geothermal and other energy resources. He said the committee's possible scope includes county policy on intake and management of energy projects, consultation on statewide and federal energy actions, geothermal and other siting issues, measures to mitigate high energy costs, and partnerships to analyze environmental impacts.

Benjamin Rickelman, the economic development deputy, outlined outreach to neighboring CCAs (Marin Clean Energy, Valley Clean Energy and Pioneer Energy) and noted state tools such as programmatic EIRs can provide regulatory clarity. He also described a pending subsurface imaging campaign by a geologic hydrogen company that will contact landowners for voluntary participation and compensation, and said microgrid and battery-storage grants remain under consideration for small-business relief.

Board members repeatedly endorsed forming a local policy body. "We need to pause for a minute and set our table and prepare for more and more developers coming," Supervisor Pyska said, noting the need for a clear county pathway. Supervisor Sabatier emphasized starting with an internal county platform before broadening to tribes and cities, while other supervisors urged early inclusion of tribal and city partners in later phases.

Public commenters supported the committee and urged it cast a wide net, including incentives for household-level solar and financing mechanisms to lower upfront costs for residents.

The motion passed 5-0. Staff recommended that committee membership include two supervisors, the County Administrative Officer or designee, the Community Development Director or designee, the Public Services Director or designee, the County Treasurer or designee, and the deputy CAO focused on economic development. The board's vote named Supervisors Pyska and Owen as the supervisor members; staff will return with additional organizational details and meeting schedule.

Next steps: committee members will begin meeting, staff will continue outreach to CCAs and pursue funding opportunities such as programmatic EIR grants, and the board indicated it expects to invite tribes and city officials to participate in later phases.