Commissioners weigh Planning Commission’s recommendation to extend moratorium on unregulated alternative energy uses

County planning staff reported that the Planning Commission recommended extending Resolution 060624 — the moratorium on commercial-scale alternative energy uses not covered by Article 21 — for two years to allow time to collect information and draft regulatory amendments. Staff described the extension as a pause on new submittals for applications not currently addressed in zoning rules, including commercial solar, battery storage, hydrogen production and potential data centers.

Several commissioners questioned the length of a two-year pause. One commissioner said, “Two years is a long time,” and suggested a six‑month or one‑year phased approach to avoid indefinitely delaying potential business opportunities. Commissioners proposed alternatives: (a) a shorter, time-limited pause, (b) staged reviews that address the highest-priority uses first (for example, data centers), or (c) a two-year moratorium with automatic removal of specific energy uses from the moratorium as planning code amendments are adopted.

Staff clarified that a moratorium would “put a pause on any submittals until it gets addressed in the regulations,” and that individual energy‑use amendments would fall off the moratorium once the county adopts permitting language for that use. Commissioners asked staff to investigate ways to collect additional public input consistent with Chapter 19 of state statutes and to return with options that balance regulatory clarity and timeliness.

No formal vote was taken on an extension at this meeting. Commissioners agreed to place the moratorium matter on next week’s agenda for further discussion and public comment.

Ending: The board asked staff to present clearer timeframes and public‑engagement plans before making a formal decision.