Supervisors hear county energy goals workshop; staff propose REEIS update, land strategy and studies on new technologies
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Summary
County staff briefed the Board of Supervisors on updates to the Renewable Energy and Conservation Element (REEIS), proposing a 1'to'1.5'year public process to revise land-use policy, consider federal land partnerships, encourage on-site generation and evaluate options including microgrids, CCAs and new technologies.
County officials on Monday presented a workshop on San Bernardino County's energy landscape and recommended updates to the county's Renewable Energy and Conservation Element (REEIS) to address rising demand, interconnection delays and aging infrastructure.
"If capacity doesn't keep up with demand, we will see increasing delays in interconnection," said Derek Armstrong, acting deputy executive officer, explaining the difference between capacity (the system's ability to deliver power at a moment) and generation (production over time). Armstrong said those delays risk slowing job growth and deterring employers.
Miguel Figueroa, the county's land use services director, reviewed the REEIS history and its six guiding goals and said the county must update the policy to reflect new state laws and rapidly growing demand driven by electric vehicles, data centers and wider electrification. "The REEIS sets clear goals that the county aims to achieve and just as importantly, show what we want to avoid," Figueroa said, emphasizing public engagement and neighborhood compatibility.
Luther Snoke, chief executive officer, outlined three areas of focus: updating the REEIS, assessing whether the county should pursue federal land acquisition or partnerships to concentrate development on suitable parcels, and rethinking the county's energy policy stance to account for new technologies such as microgrids, hydrogen and potential small modular nuclear reactors. Snoke said the county will consider pros and cons before taking action and will engage experts where needed.
Board members supported a proactive approach while urging careful vetting. "For us to take a proactive role ... we should be at the table and see what we could do proactively versus just waiting," Supervisor Kurt Hagman said, urging exploration of partnerships with federal landowners and consultants to guide next steps. Vice Chair Baca and other supervisors highlighted reliability and affordability concerns and the need for broad community outreach in desert and unincorporated areas.
Staff told the board the REEIS revision is likely to be a one- to one-and-a-half-year process with robust public engagement and could lead to policy adjustments by 2028 or 2029. No formal action was taken; the item was received as an informational workshop and staff indicated they would return with recommendations, including an agenda item to consider forming an ad hoc committee.
Next steps: staff will draft a public engagement plan and bring back recommendations on committee structure, funding for consultant support, and a timeline to update the REEIS and related land-management approaches.
