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Montrose County planning staff and commissioners debate draft renewable-energy zoning rules
Summary
Planning staff presented a draft amendment that reclassifies how large and small renewable projects are permitted, adds battery energy storage systems, and sets decommissioning, setback and application standards; industry commenters urged narrower bonding rules for small projects and stakeholders pressed for clear definitions.
Planning staff presented a broad rewrite of Montrose County’s renewable-energy zoning rules at a special planning commission meeting, prompting a detailed review by commissioners and extended public comment from solar industry representatives and residents.
The draft would divide renewable facilities into ‘‘small-scale’’ and ‘‘large-scale’’ projects with a 5-megawatt AC threshold, add a separate designation for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and set application requirements including site photos, impact analyses and decommissioning plans. The staff presenter summarized the scope as ‘‘the bulk of the amendment is related to power generation facilities including dividing uses between large scale renewable energy facilities and small scale renewable energy facilities, battery energy storage systems, both accessory and stand alone’’ (Staff member).
Why it matters: the proposed changes shift many large projects into a special-use review process and formalize safety, reclamation and mitigation requirements officials say are intended to protect view sheds,…
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