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Resident urges Lake County to adopt comprehensive energy policy before state rules take effect
Summary
A local resident told the board the 2050 general plan should include a countywide energy policy to protect groundwater, cultural resources and setbacks before state law or outside developers dictate standards.
At the public comment portion of the June 15 budget hearing, Sterling Wellman, a resident of Lake County District 3 and the Eastern Town Hall area, urged supervisors to adopt a comprehensive county energy policy as part of the Lake County 2050 general plan prior to its final adoption.
Wellman said the urgency was driven by new state requirements (AB 531 referenced in public comment) and growing interest in geothermal development, battery storage, transmission and high‑energy uses such as data centers. "If Lake County does not establish its own energy policy and develop criteria, the state may ultimately determine how energy development occurs here," Wellman said, framing the matter as a local‑control issue.
Wellman asked the board to ensure the general plan includes a full energy policy — not only a geothermal element — and spelled out policy elements residents have repeatedly requested: groundwater and aquifer protections, anti‑fracking language, tribal and cultural resource protections, setbacks from homes and schools, environmental monitoring and financial guarantees, community benefits and local workforce commitments.
The board received the comment; staff and board responses during the budget hearing focused on fiscal matters and departmental budgets rather than zoning specifics. The resident’s remarks were entered into the record and will form part of the public input on the general plan process ahead of the plan’s September deadline.
Provenance: Public comment by Sterling Wellman (SEG 072–143).
