The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) is seeking public feedback on a Clean Energy Permitting Initiative Playbook and Toolkit. The effort aims to provide a resource outlining best practices, as well as providing guidance regarding how to align state and local permitting processes to reduce barriers to deploying renewable energy projects.
GO-Biz conducted extensive consultation with stakeholders, developers, local governments, and state entities to develop these toolkits and draft model ordinances. RCRC was pleased to participate in many of those conversations with GO-Biz. These materials are intended to be resources that local governments can use to develop their own permitting processes and ordinances for emerging renewable energy and battery storage projects.
Recognizing the limited experience local governments have had permitting battery storage projects, and in light of recent fires and thermal runaway events, GO-Biz is intended to help de-mystify the technology; safety and response protocols; and permitting frameworks for local governments. The battery storage materials are intended to provide information about existing fire and safety protocols, inherent risks, and best practices employed by other local agencies, including identifying areas where local governments may consider permitting battery storage projects on a ministerial rather than a discretionary basis.
The draft Playbook and Toolkit materials can be found HERE.
GO-Biz is soliciting comments and feedback on the materials via email at energyunit@gobiz.ca.gov until Friday November 21st. GO-Biz also hosted a walkthrough webinar on October 22nd. Presentation slides are available HERE.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, John Kennedy.