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Montezuma County adopts Chapter 10 of land-use code to address alternative energy, including solar
Summary
The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 25 adopted Resolution 292025 to amend the land-use code by adding Chapter 10 on alternative energy, explicitly including solar; public commenters urged the board to consider agrivoltaics guidance and other renewables during implementation.
Montezuma County’s Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 25, 2025 adopted Resolution 292025 to amend the county land-use code by adding Chapter 10 addressing alternative energy, explicitly including solar.
The board voted to adopt the resolution after planning staff said the draft incorporates changes made during last week’s public hearing. A commissioner moved to adopt the resolution and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: the amendment creates a formal code chapter governing siting and review of alternative-energy projects in the county. During the public comment period, residents urged the board to adopt implementation guidance that draws on federal technical reports and to avoid privileging solar to the exclusion of other renewable technologies.
Public comment: Alan Mays, a Lewis resident, said he was “curious” why the code singled out solar and suggested the title or content could reference broader alternative-energy options. Eleanor McFarland of Cortez cited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report, NRCS fact sheets and agrivoltaics guidelines and asked the board to use those documents “when the solar additions to land use code are actually put to the test,” and to keep examining other renewable options beyond solar.
Implementation notes: Planning staff told the board the resolution represents the written decision from last week’s hearing and incorporates the board’s prior motions. The record does not specify an effective date for the ordinance’s provisions or any immediate permit approvals tied to the adoption; the board signed the resolution for official adoption during the meeting.
Next steps: Board members signed the adopted resolution following the vote. The planning department and county staff will be responsible for applying the new Chapter 10 when projects appear before the county; the transcript indicates the board expects to review implementation details and additional guidance in future meetings.
