Contra Costa County has received a grant from the California Strategic Growth Council to study the potential in the County for renewable energy, particularly wind, solar, biomass, and biogas. While the County’s zoning ordinances encourage the installation of renewable energy for use on a residence or business, the ordinances that apply to energy generated for commercial purposes allow only wind. (It’s worth noting that the County issues about 1, 500 permits each year for rooftop solar on homes.)
The Renewable Resource Potential Study will assess opportunities for solar, wind, biomass, and biogas resources in the unincorporated County and on facilities owned or leased by the County. It will identify changes to County zoning ordinances that would be helpful to accommodate deployment of renewable resources while prioritizing the highest and best use of land, particularly areas that are used for agriculture or parks, or identified as habitat conservation areas.
The study is kicking off this month and is expected to be complete in late summer. The County will be hosting a total of three stakeholder meetings as the project progresses, with the first on Thursday, May 24th. Please attend to provide input on the parameters Contra Costa is using to assess renewable energy opportunities.
If you would like to receive updates as the project moves forward and be notified of future meetings, please sign up here.
For more information on the Renewable Resource Potential Study, please contact Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development: Jody.London@dcd.cccounty.us, (925) 674-7871.
WHEN
Thursday, May 24, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
WHERE
651 Pine St., Room 101
Martinez 94553
Please RSVP to Deidre Hodgers, Deidre.Hodgers@dcd.cccounty.us