The city has adopted these regulations for the following purposes:
(A) Comprehensive plan goals. The city has goals in its Comprehensive Plan, including preserving the health, safety, and welfare of the community by promoting the safe, effective, and efficient use of solar energy systems. The solar energy standards specifically implement the following goals from the Comprehensive Plan:
(1) Goal. Encourage the use of local renewable energy resources, including appropriate applications for wind, solar, and biomass energy and energy storage.
(2) Goal. Promote sustainable building design and management practices to serve current and future generations.
(3) Goal. Assist local businesses to lower financial and regulatory risks and improve their economic, community, and environmental sustainability.
(4) Goal. Efficiently invest in and manage public infrastructure systems to support development and growth.
(B) Infrastructure. Distributed solar photovoltaic systems will enhance the reliability and power quality of the power grid and make more efficient use of the city's electric distribution infrastructure.
(C) Local resource. Solar energy is an underused local energy resource and encouraging its use will diversify the community's energy supply portfolio and reduce exposure to fiscal risks associated with fossil fuels.
(D) Consistency with greenhouse gas reduction plans. The city has developed recommendations for greenhouse gas reductions, a purpose served by encouraging local solar development.
(E) Improve competitive markets. Solar energy systems offer additional energy choices to consumers and will improve competition in the electricity and natural gas supply markets.
(Ord. 23-2022, passed 12-19-22)