Remote videoconferencing came into play, as the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors extended the moratorium on commercial solar energy generation projects for another 10½ months. Dan Stork observed proceedings remotely…
A parade of Hi-Desert residents addressing the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors from a government center in Hesperia was followed by 20 Morongo Basin residents speaking from Joshua Tree. The great majority of all speakers, and all local commenters, urged the Supervisors to extend the 45-day moratorium on commercial solar development for up to a total of a year. The speakers piled up concerns: environmental impacts, home values, wildlife damage, water usage, and misdeeds by developers. The extension was requested by County staff that had been tasked with writing amendments to the Development Code to provide guidelines for this sort of renewable energy project. Supervisor Janice Rutherford acknowledged the influence of the speakers: “I was never going to vote for it to go past 45 days, but I’ve heard some compelling reasons today.” She then joined her colleagues on the Board in a unanimous vote to extend the moratorium. Staff has been asked to not fill up the entire year on this task, but to complete their work within 3 to 6 months, and to return to the Board with recommendations for development guidelines. It was noted that there are 25 projects in the county in various stages of progress that will not be affected by the moratorium, and that developers can continue to refine their plans, at their own risk, during the moratorium.
COUNTY EXTENDS COMMERCIAL SOLAR MORATORIUM
