LAKEPORT — Homeowners concerned about solar panels going in too close to homes will have to wait until April 15 for satisfaction. At its Tuesday meeting, the Lake County Board of Supervisors tabled a decision on an appeal of the project”s approval until then.
The Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) is planning to build a one?megawatt solar panel array that would cover approximately seven acres on the Southeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in the unincorporated area of Clearlake. Bill Sullivan, who owns property across the street, appealed a Feb. 14 Planning Commission decision to approve the project.
“We don”t want them to stop the project. All we”re trying to get them to do is move it back. I would see the panels every day ? it would totally destroy the view of the rolling hills,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan also referenced a notice he got in January that there would be a public hearing on the project before the Lake County Planning Commission. An approximately three-inch by three-inch map of the project area did not outline where the solar panels would stand.
“We didn”t think it would impact us. I only went [to the planning commission meeting] because I was concerned about the road needing to be patched up,” Sullivan said.
Property owners in the area told the board they did not approve of the project the way it was proposed because it would affect the view.
“We”re not against solar ? we think that”s a good thing ? but not when it”s in our faces,” area resident Greg Davis said.
County Counsel Anita Grant told the board that it could only take into consideration health and safety concerns when deciding to stop a solar project, not aesthetics.
Special Districts Manager Mark Dellinger said, “We didn”t consider this lightly. A solar facility in the area will provide a further setback from the biosolids, and that is good for public health and safety.
The wastewater treatment site removes solid waste from sewage before the treated wastewater is sent to the Geysers to be injected into the steam fields. The resulting solid waste, or “sledge,” is stored on-site. The district is bound to a 100-foot setback from neighboring homes. The required setback for solar panels from neighboring homes is 30 feet.
Elliot Allen, principal for planning consultant Criterion, was present to answer questions.
“We are sympathetic to these concerns,” he said. Allen added that the site selected for the solar panels was the lowest-lying and least visible area on the wastewater treatment facility”s land.
The item was discussed in two parts Tuesday before it was continued to next week”s meeting. Between discussions, Supervisor Denise Rushing said, “We”re in an age where energy decisions will require some trade-offs.”
Sullivan said the continuation was a good sign. “It looks like we can get something done out here and get them to move back a little bit, but we don”t know how much,” Sullivan said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
