(A) Consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan, the intent of this subchapter is to allow reasonable capture and use, by households, businesses and property owners, of their solar energy resource, and encourage the development of renewable energy businesses, consistent with community development standards.
(B) The city has adopted this subchapter for the following purposes:
(1) Comprehensive Plan goals. To meet the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and preserve the health, safety and welfare of the city’s citizens by promoting the safe, effective and efficient use of active solar energy systems installed to reduce the on-site consumption of fossil fuels or utility-supplied electric energy. The following solar energy standards specifically implement the following goals:
(a) Encourage the use of local renewable energy resources, including appropriate applications for wind, solar and biomass energy; and
(b) Promote sustainable building design and management practices in residential, commercial and industrial buildings to serve the needs of current and future generations.
(2) Green house gas reduction (GHG). Solar energy is an abundant, renewable and nonpolluting energy resource and its conversion to electricity or heat will reduce our dependence on nonrenewable energy resources and decrease the green house gas (GHG) emissions and other air and water pollution that results from the use of conventional energy sources;
(3) Local resource. Solar energy is an under-used local energy resource. Encouraging the use of solar energy will diversify the community’s energy supply portfolio and limit exposure to fiscal risks associated with fossil fuels; and
(4) Improve competitive markets. Solar energy systems offer additional energy choice to consumers and will improve competition in the electricity and natural gas supply market.
(Prior Code, § 12-230) (Ord. 03-2015, passed 8-18-2015)