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AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SUSTAINABILITY

Meeting Date:	07/23/2018
Subject: RECEIVE UPDATE on Renewable Resource Potential Study.
Submitted For:	Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator
Department:	Conservation & Development
Referral No.:
Referral Name:	RECEIVE UPDATE on Renewable Resource Potential Study.
Presenter:	JodyLondon, DCD	Contact:	Jody London (925) 674-7871

Information

Referral History:

In 2017 the County received a $49,000 grant from the California Strategic Growth Council to perform a Renewable Resource Potential Study.

Referral Update:

The County’s existing land use regulations for renewable energy for resale purposes only allow for solar in commercial and industrial districts, and wind. This project will assess the potential for renewable resources (solar, wind, biomass, biogas) in unincorporated Contra Costa County and on County owned or leased facilities that are located throughout the County. This project at the same time will analyze opportunities and constraints for expanding renewable energy generation in the County; this will include an analysis of where potential renewable resource generation would create impacts to agriculture, job-rich land uses, habitats, aesthetics, transportation, and other land uses.

In August 2017, the Board approved acceptance of the grant. The Department of Conservation and Development subsequently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultants for this project and selected Meister Consultants Group, a Cadmus Company (Meister). The contract was approved in March. Meister is proceeding with gathering data to inform the resource assessment and has been working closely with County GIS staff to develop analytic tools. Meister has been working with staff from various County departments, as well as outside entities, to inform the renewable resource assessment.

On May 24, the County hosted the first of three stakeholder meetings for this project. 26 people participated in the meeting, including representatives from renewable energy developers, cities, higher education, State and Federal government agencies, County staff, aides to County Supervisors, and community members. Meister also presented on this project at the June 25 meeting of the Sustainability Commission. That presentation is attached for reference. The second stakeholder meeting will be held on July 25.

Using results from the resource potential assessment, County staff will collaborate with three communities in the unincorporated area of the County that are identified by the State of California as “disadvantaged” on opportunities for residents of those communities to benefit from community-scale renewable energy.

Additionally, eight cities in the County are providing funds so the consultants can evaluate the potential for renewable resource deployment in those jurisdictions. DCD staff have facilitated introductions to the participating city staff and sent them invoices. This has allowed Meister to begin working with the cities. The results of those engagements are not directly part of this grant, however the information will complement the County’s study and increase the likelihood for more renewable energy to be installed in Contra Costa County jurisdictions.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

RECEIVE UPDATE on Renewable Resource Potential Study.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

None.

Attachments
Renewable Resource Potential Study Overview Presentation