1. Renewable Energy Streamlining Program (RESP) California Energy Commission August 3, 2015 James Caruso, Senior Planner

2. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities What is the RESP?  A program to encourage and streamline development of renewable energy projects  Based on policies in the Conservation and Open Space Element (COSE)  Revised Elements, Rules and Ordinances:  Conservation and Open Space Element  Agriculture Element  Land use Element/Land Use Ordinance  Williamson Act Rules of Procedure

3. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities What is Streamlining?  Streamline the land use permit process for defined renewable energy projects:  Ministerial v. Discretionary  Shorten permitting time frames  Decrease uncertainty of the result  Focus on Distributed Generation (< 20 MW)  Less than 40 acres (started at 160 acres)  Programmatic EIR

4. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities Features of the RESP  Renewable Energy (RE) combining designation  Large 10-mile radius circles around substations  Streamline approvals (ministerial process) for distributed generation projects up to 40 acres  Must meet performance standards  Alternative to a Use Permit  RESP applies in inland areas only

5. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities RE designation does not include:  Federal Lands (National Forest)  State Lands (parks)  Coastal Zone

6. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities Accessory Renewable Energy Facilities  Provide energy for on site uses  If ground-mounted, under 3 acres  Not on Class I or II soils Large accessory solar facility

7. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities Large Accessory Solar Facility

8. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities What Did We Learn?  Policy Alignment  Agriculture  Biological Resources  CEQA  resource protection  Adds uncertainty/time  Protect Prerogatives  Landscape scale limitations

9. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING Promoting the wise use of land Helping build great communities What Did We Learn?  Infrastructure limits (approx 70 MW)  Cast a wide net  EIR for future projects  Accessory Uses (Agriculture)  Williamson Act lands

10. Renewable Energy Streamlining Program (RESP) California Energy Commission August 3, 2015