Power to the people?

While public testimony is overwhelmingly against Renewable Energy Amendment, Inyo Board’s ultimate direction is unclear

Tuesday’s Inyo County Board of Supervisors’ hours-long workshop on the draft Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment (REGPA) was all about power: the power of solar and renewable energy, the power of the people, the power of the environment, the power of history, and the power of the State.

It is unclear how much power the Board of Supervisors’ final decision on the REGPA will have over where renewable energy projects should or should not be placed on the 98 percent of federal, state, and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)-owned land.

But the public sentiment of those attending the workshop was clearly and overwhelming against large industrial renewable energy projects in the Owens Valley, especially the Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch (SOVSR) proposed by the DWP.

In a scene reminiscent of that at the Planning Commission meeting three weeks ago, 41 of 42 public comments were in opposition to the REGPA.

At both meetings, only one speaker, Jim Stroh of Independence, spoke out in favor of REGPA, saying that, “Having a plan is better than no plan at all.” Most others also supported having a plan? just not the current one being proposed.

At the beginning of the REGPA workshop, Inyo County Associate Planner Cathreen Richards reviewed the process for amending the General Plan (which is required by state law) and then more specifically, the process used for the proposed REGPA.

Richards explained that 98 percent of the county’s land is owned by the state, federal, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and that the County had no real legal or regulatory authority over what or where development would take place. While land owners “must take into consideration local general plans,” they don’t necessarily have to follow those plans. Therein lies the problem, said Richards.

“Simply saying ‘no’ to REGPA would have no effect on the 98 percent of land that is not under County control or subject to it regulations,” Richards explained. Having a REGPA would at least put the County on record so that it might become a participant in land owners’ decision-making process.

Currently, California’s ambitious renewable energy portfolio law (signed in April 12, 2011 by the governor) states that utility companies must provide eligible renewable energy resources from 25 percent of retail sales by Dec. 31, 2016, and 33 percent of retail sales by Dec. 31, 2020. Retail sellers must procure not less than 33 percent of retail sales in all subsequent years.

This puts them under considerable pressure and time constraints in order to comply.

“While I have problems with the current REGPA, I agree with Associate Planner Richards that not having a plan is not good,” said Bryan Kostors of Independence. He went on to say that it should be a better than the one proposed, and encouraged those opposing the current REGPA to express their opposition and offer alternatives.

Deepestvalley.com, a website opposing the REGPA, has exceeded over 1,000 signatures.

Kosters went on to say that he did not believe the Inyo County Planning Department wrote the amendment to “invite” development, but that it appeared to do so, and he felt a better renewable energy plan for the county was needed.

Julie Fought of DeLaCour Ranch south of Lone Pine spoke to the board members, encouraging them to remake Inyo County into an area where “We own our own resources.”

“We [should] have a world-class plan for a world-class area,” she said.

Ilene Mandelbaum, thirty-year resident of Lee Vining, emphasized the strong connection between Mono County and Inyo Counties. She noted that Mono County recently had a survey showing 62 percent of the workforce is employed in tourism.

“We share assets and should work together,” she said.

Kristen Luetkemeier, a resident of Independence and a ranger at the Manzanar Historic Site, expressed concern that the REGPA did not properly address several areas such as cultural, historic, and scenic resources. She was deeply concerned about potential negative impacts to the Lower Owens Valley River Project (LORP).

April Zrelak with the Lone Pine Tribe Environmental Office handed the Supervisors maps and documents on the LADWP’s own Owens Valley Land Management Plan, which she said designates the entire Owens Valley Renewable Energy Development Area (REDA) as a ‘conservation area’ that should not be in the plan.

She also expressed the tribe’s concern about threat to its historic and cultural history, as well as the potential harm to LORP.

She claimed that at last week’s meeting with LADWP Power Planning staff, “They did not know anything about the land management plan or LORP.  So here’s Power at DWP not knowing what the Water side is doing and going on with their plans regardless.”

Gann Matsuda with the Manzanar Committee was concerned about the historic viewshed, an important component of the history of the Manzanar War Relocation Center for Japanese-Americans during WWII.

He felt, he said, that the current REGPA “was an open invitation to development,” and asked, “Are you going to sell out the Owens Valley? It is economic suicide … and for what? At most ten jobs?”

Sally Miller with the Wilderness Society, Mark Bagley with the Sierra Club, Eileen Anderson, a staff biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity, and Drew Foster with Friends of the Inyo also expressed concerns and disappointment over the County’s Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment. They offered support for a plan that creates “appropriate siting for development,” as well to establishing “conservation zones.”

Many of those present requested more time to consider changes to the plan, which may not be possible given the fixed deadlines.

The Board of Supervisors will be meeting on April 1 to discuss the draft REGPA.