Utility-Scale Solar Amendments

The project seeks to amend land use regulations in Santa Barbara County to eliminate the 600-acre utility-scale solar overlay restriction in the Cuyama Valley and permit such projects through Conditional Use Permits on appropriately zoned lands across unincorporated areas. It introduces a new community-scale solar category for smaller facilities and updates multiple comprehensive plans and codes including the County Comprehensive Plan, Coastal Land Use Plan, County Land Use and Development Code, Montecito LUDC, Article II Coastal Zoning Ordinance, and the Uniform Rules for Agricultural Preserves and Farmland Security Zones to align with state mandates. The initiative aims to streamline the permitting process for solar energy development while ensuring compliance with environmental protection laws such as CEQA, AB 52, and SB 18, as well as local environmental thresholds and the County’s 2030 Climate Action Plan. Construction activities for the associated solar facility involve extensive site preparation and grading across approximately 559 acres with a projected timeline extending from January 2026 through May 2030, including land clearing, earthwork, and material export of 825,000 cubic yards, managed through phased construction with active dust mitigation measures targeting a 61% reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 emissions and coordination of up to 250 workers and over 13,000 vehicle trips. Environmental and cultural resource protection form a central component of the project’s implementation, with inspections and acceptance tied to compliance with County Archaeological Guidelines, CEQA Section 15064.5, and protocols from the California Native Heritage Commission and California Invasive Plant Council. Mitigation measures include restrictions on work hours to protect wildlife, mandatory WEAP training for all personnel, prohibitions on firearms and pets on site, strict control of invasive species, and spill containment protocols. Oversight is shared between the contractor, responsible for executing and documenting mitigation efforts, and the County’s Planning and Development Department, which conducts verification and approves final compliance. The project site spans unincorporated areas including Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Solvang, with no contractual pricing or payment terms identified, and no formal FAR clauses, contract administration data, evaluation criteria, or procurement structures applicable because this is a policy and zoning amendment initiative rather than a traditional procurement contract. The process is led by County Planner Zoe Carlson and consulting planner Luci Hise-F