This piece from TWW’s Greg Brophy originally ran in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel on May 28, 2024 and can be accessed here.
Mesa County is now a role model for how to deal with growth in solar
Mesa County is now a role model for how to deal with growth in solar energy
Serious and thoughtful policymaking — based on facts, not feelings — is hard to come by these days. But it should come as no surprise that western Colorado is one place that you’ll find it.
Case in point: Mesa County’s process for developing regulations on the construction of solar energy facilities.
Early this year, Mesa County faced a surge in proposals for large-scale solar projects. Recognizing the need for responsible development, the county commissioners enacted a temporary moratorium on approvals.
This pause wasn’t meant to block solar energy altogether, but rather to create clear land-use regulations that were missing from the county’s existing code.
Still, for pro-energy observers, the moratorium did make us nervous. In other settings, similar permitting pauses have been used to shut down energy development altogether, especially in the case of oil and natural gas production.
But thankfully, officials in Mesa County were acting in good faith. The lack of specific guidelines for solar projects in the county code created uncertainty for both developers and local officials.
The commissioners set a clear deadline of six months for county planning staff to develop a comprehensive set of regulations. This process was open and inclusive, incorporating diverse perspectives and concerns from the community.
And the regulations were finalized in just four months. Imagine if state and federal regulatory agencies had the same work ethic as Mesa County planning officials.
The new regulations establish a clear distinction between small-scale solar projects, like rooftop panels, and large-scale utility projects. Importantly, applications for large-scale projects will now need to consider various factors like project height, equipment location, wildlife impact, and grid connection. Additionally, projects near scenic byways will be subject to specific setbacks.
The regulations also prioritize responsible practices. Utility projects must have insurance, decommission plans for the end of their lifespan, and clear documentation of how the generated electricity will be used.
A proponent of the moratorium, Rhiannon Lawson, praised the regulations when they were approved by county commissioners in late April.
“I certainly didn’t get everything I was going for in this, but speaking for those of us who were at all the meetings and all the discussions and reading all the emails on the public portal, everybody really did a good job,” Lawson said.
“If everybody is unhappy in the end, then we have found the right compromise.”
These regulations prioritize both environmental and economic benefits. They respect private property rights and leverage industry expertise, avoiding misinformation and fearmongering that can often surround energy projects of all kinds.
It isn’t just oil and gas development that has to deal with false claims — solar and wind have the same problem too.
As a farmer and former state legislator from the Eastern Plains of Colorado, I was privileged to participate in Mesa County’s process. I work with a conservative nonprofit that tries to find pro-market energy solutions, especially in rural communities, and in my part of the state, we have benefited greatly from the expansion of renewable energy — especially wind — over the past 15 years.
I shared some of the lessons learned from our experience and a sense of the economic benefit — roughly $5.9 billion in economic activity for the Eastern Plains — when local regulations strike the right balance between community concerns and property rights.
Don’t get me wrong — Mesa County isn’t going to see billions of dollars in solar investment overnight. But attracting construction jobs, growing the local tax base, and diversifying the region’s energy mix will undoubtedly have positive economic benefits.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the past several months is this: Mesa County now serves as a role model for other local governments when it comes to managing the growth of renewable energy projects.
That should be a point of pride for the county commissioners — and the people they represent.
Greg Brophy is a former state legislator from the Eastern Plains who now operates The Western Way, a conservative group that promotes land-use issues and energy development.