Solar Energy

In the county's comprehensive plan, the Future Land Use Element includes a green building objective with related policies of reviewing the land development code and considering appropriate standards for use of renewable energy sources, including solar panels (Policy 1.4.2.4), and facilitating low-interest loans through the county's Solar and Energy Loan Fund to residents and business owners for installing renewable energy technology as well as energy efficiency and conservation measures (Policy 1.4.2.5). The plan's Housing Element includes an objective of supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy resource use in new and existing housing (Objective 3.2.7), with supporting policies of not prohibiting and establishing standards for appropriate placement of PV panels (Policy 3.2.7.3), including renewable energy resources in affordable housing projects to the fullest extent possible (Policy 3.2.7.7), and facilitating low-interest loans through the county's Solar and Energy Loan Fund to residents and business owners for installing renewable energy technology as well as energy efficiency and conservation measures (Policy 3.2.7.10). The county lists "solar energy" as a targeted clean energy industry for economic development programming in the Economic Development Element (p. 10-6).