Solar Energy

In the city's Comprehensive Plan, the Land Use Element addresses alternative energy (Chapter 4). The plan notes that alternative energy will help the city meet sustainability and climate change commitments and describes the environmental and economic benefits of alternative energy use. The plan calls for further study on accommodating large-scale alternative energy use as an implementation item, stating general principles of impact mitigation, promotion of alternative energy sources through local plans and ordinances, development of criteria to assess applications, consideration of broader environmental and economic benefits in project reviews, recognizing the value of small-scale projects, engaging the community in the planning process, and minimizing impacts through careful planning and design.

Solar energy is also addressed in the Natural Resources Chapter (Chapter 9). The plan states that promoting the use of renewable energy in both public and private operations is critical. The plan also makes recomendations encouraging a shift to renewable energy sources to combat climate change, promoting the use of solar energy in new residential developments, reviewing the potential for solar energy use in new public buildings, and considering varying setback requirements to help protect solar access (p.194).