With its sunny days and south-facing coast, Santa Barbara County is well positioned to harness solar energy. On Wednesday, the county’s Planning Commission discussed proposed updates to the rules for different solar power projects. Commissioners and members of the public focused on potential impacts to agricultural land, what level of review certain projects may require, and fire risk.
Presently, solar panel projects in the county fall into two main buckets. Utility-scale solar facilities (like solar farms) are only permitted in a 600-acre area in the Cuyama Valley. Smaller solar projects are allowed throughout the county, provided they follow state rules.
At Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting, county staff presented a tier system to define and regulate solar power development…