Commission keeps 5,000‑acre county cap for commercial solar; standalone BESS excluded

The Planning Commission decided May 20 to keep a 5,000‑acre maximum for commercial/utility‑scale solar projects countywide. Commissioners clarified that the cap applies to the entire site footprint (including internal setbacks, roads and any on‑site BESS that is part of a solar installation) but does not apply to stand‑alone battery energy storage systems placed independent of a solar project.

Commissioner Dave Gibney moved to retain the 5,000‑acre limit for commercial solar projects (a figure the commissioners said was previously proposed by the Board of County Commissioners). The motion, seconded and put to a voice vote, passed unanimously. Commissioners and staff acknowledged that the number is, in part, an arbitrary policy cap intended to limit countywide exposure to utility‑scale ground‑mounted solar; staff noted that site‑specific SEPA review and CAO protections will still apply to any individual proposal.

"At 5,000 acres you are excluding roughly three‑quarters of the mapped potential area in our preliminary feasibility mapping," Commissioner Gibney said in discussion; commissioners nonetheless retained the cap, noting that it can be revisited by the BOCC if needed.