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Home My WebLink About20240359.tiffINVENTORY OF ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Applicant: Lee and Ruby Lindblad and M.A. Lindblad, LLC, c/o CBEP Solar 22, LLC and CBEP Solar 23, LLC Case #: USR23-0024 Submitted or Prepared Prior to Hearing At Hearing 1 Presentation from the applicant X 2 Memorandum Revision to the Planning Commission Resolution X — 3 Memorandum Revision to the Planning Commission Resolution X — I hereby certify that the three items identified herein was submitted to the Department of Planning Services at or prior to the scheduled Planning Commissioners hearing. Molly Wright, Planner I EXHIBIT So .0 .0 S 1 CLOUDBREAK© Community Solar Project USR23-0024 - Antelope Hill 1 & 2 Solar Project About Me Brysen Daughton • 4th generation Coloradan • From Lyons, CO • Family has been in Colorado the early 1900's • Went to Lyons High School and University of Colorado • Started my career in utility consulting, working with utilities all across the US and Canada, before moving into solar and battery storage development • Worked on farms my entire life - currently spending my weekends helping on a farm in Berthoud CLOUDBREAK tt' Al .i 'A -fit, ! ,y J • I CLOUDBREAK® Who We Are • Our team is made of farmers, ranchers, native Coloradans, and experienced solar professionals. • Offices in Sterling and Boulder. • More than 80% of our projects are located in Colorado. • Projects range from 5 acres to 2,000 acres. • Have projects in process with Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, Puget Sound Energy, and the City of Ames (Iowa) • 25+ years of combined renewable energy development, project finance, and management experience. Key Achievements • The projects in Colorado that we are working on right now would generate enough electricity to power about 120,000 Colorado homes. According to the Census, there are 111,222 households in Weld county. • We recently planted the largest pollinator habitat in the Rocky Mountain West in partnership with the Audubon Society. • We recently hosted a small business workshop in Weld County which helped local small businesses connect with local economic development groups. ACLOUDBREAK® X � XceIEnergy® What is a Community Solar Garden? • community Solar Gardens are centrally -located solar projects that allow Xcel Energy customers to receive credit on their electricity bill for the power that has been produced from the solar array by subscribing to the system through Xcel's Solar*Rewards Community Program. BENEFITS: • Allows residents to receive the benefits of solar without having to build a system on their roof or pay any upfront costs. • Increases the resiliency of the local energy grid. • Delivers cheaper electricity for local residents who subscribe to the system. Direct Community Benefits CLOUDBREAK As a local Colorado company, it is very important to us that our projects provide significant and direct benefits to the community. The Antelope Hill 1 & 2 Solar Projects will: LOCAL IMPACT: Utilize a local construction team that will generate significant activity for local businesses during the construction of the systems. Use a local shepherd for land maintenance. SCHOLARSHIPS: Provide one scholarship to a local student that is interested in pursuing a career in renewable energy. TAX INCOME Generate significant property tax revenue for the County. Generate additional sales tax revenue during the construction of the systems. CHEAPER ELECTRICITY: Save local Xcel Energy customers about 10% on their electricity bills through Xcel's Solar*Rewards Community Program. Our goal is to subscribe as many local Xcel customers as we can. Antelope Hill 1 & 2 Community Solar Project CLOUDBREAK • Proposal: Antelope Hill 1 will be an approximately 28.4 -acre Community Solar Garden. Antelope Hill 2 will be an approximately 5.3 -acre Community Solar Garden. • The Antelope Hill 1 property is owned by Lee and Ruby Lindblad. The Antelope Hill 2 property is owned by M.A. Lindblad, LLC. • Timeline: The projects will begin construction in the fall of 2024. • Electricity Production: Will produce the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of about 1,800 homes. • Agricultural Production: Will establish a native dryland pasture and graze sheep under the panels. • Antelope Hill 1 and Antelope Hill 2 have no existing water rights. • Leasing a portion of the land for solar will provide the landowners with significant and stable income for years to come. CLOUDBREAK° Site Plan Antelope Hill 1 a foe iiimr law -4 C ) NCL1 THROUGH SITE AI. LI__ _ •,ILL It 11 tun It -Y - H1:_JLAR E''.-;.` 1'E S. S. S VEHI ..V•' ENTRANCE GATE — ' 1 PROPOSED COMMERCIAL F -WAY ACCESS FROM CR 68 GE 273 J 3 ZONE: AGRICULTURAL PARCEL: 080517300047 stOYIINNER: ULRICH STEVEN K (1/4 INT) -.ULRICH LONNA A (1/8 INT) ULRICH ELM ER H. & CLARA (JT 1/8 INT) MCGLOTHLIN DEBORAH L. TRUST MCOLOTHUN WILUAM KELL 47.6191% OF 1/2 INT MCGL©THLIN CORDON 19.0476s% OF 1 2 INT EXISTING 2 -TRACK ROAD EXISTING EDGE OF c'ANAI. EXISTING WATER WELL. -Lk STING WATER PUMP ExISTINO METAL PIPE EXISTING 50' PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY RECEPTION NO 4287201 RECEPTION NO 4'287202 SEE TURNAROUND CETAIL SHEET 4.0 DETAIL I II [XI ;TII,t 2 -TRACK RDA ) ;=U.,! BUILDINGS �.r a -or-- r H L i _392, CR. Flc 1- PROPOSE} VEHICULAR ACCESS GAIL TO - - - — SOLAR FARM. EMERGENCY CONTACT SIC,N POSTED INCLUDING PROJECT OWNER, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR ELECTRICAL HAZARD SIGNS ✓ r •Tal. A EXISTING FOOT BRIDGE WITH WING WALLS PROPOSED USE QF EXISTING CULVERT CROSSING INACTIVE GAS WELLS API$ 05-123-33548 API( 05-123-33549 APIS 05-123-35995 API# 05-123-33251 APIS 05-123-33252 API#I 05-123-33265 API# 05-123-33239 ACT 1VE GAS AFT I S APIS 05-123-35997 API$ 05-123-35996 API# 05-123-10764 APIf 05-123-33246 SURFACE USE AGREEMENT 200' BUFFER AROUND ACTIVE OIL AND GAS WELL Asir VEHICULAR ENTRANCE GATE UUUUUULIU - F RAL ARCEL 6 INNER: NOLAN RICHARD al PROPOSED EQUIPMENT PAL:. - SEE SHEET to DETA L a PROPOSED TEMPORARY , CONSTRUCTION TRAILER il6J 11 U aralaialliaall- a _ .! LONE. .AG: ICIA-1 URAL PARCEL 0.505201C0G43 OWNER: BROWN FARMS .LLC ZONE: AGRICULTURAL PARCEL 0605200000376 + i '--- — + OWNER: 11000 SHERRI. bIDA - EXISTING 30' RICHT—OF—WAY BOOK 86 AT PAGE 2.73 EXISTING GAS LINE EXISTING WATER LINE Ex1S11NG 1ELEGOM LINE x ti ZONE: AGRICULTURAL PARCEL 080516300055 O4YNER: FAGERBER'G LESLIE K REVOCABLE, LYNN A REVCCACLE EXISTING 75x100' SURFACE SITE EASEMENT RECEPTION NO. 4287202 EXISTING PIPELINE Rir_.HT-CF-WAY I I EXISTING UTILJTY RACK EXISTING PIPELINE RIGHT -OE -WAY ZONE: AGRICULTURAL PARCEL: 080515300059 OWNER: JACKSON ANDREW GAIN. LAI;RA LOUISE II PROPOSED PERM ANLNF 1 STORAGE TRAILERS 1 ;FE T.iRNA'.ROUND DETAtI- SH T 4 0 DETAIL I• EXIS-LNG EQUIPLMEXIT BERM ZONE AGRICULTURAL PARCEL 080516300058 CIWNER: JACKSON PETER R (THEIRS OF) A --- I EXISTING - - - "EQUIPMENT HUT L ARCEL:080521200021 INNER': FRITZLER FARM CLOUDBREAK© Site Plan Antelope Hill 2 W 7fNE: AGRI w =AL PARCEL: 080517000038 OWNER:. LINDBLAD JASMINE EVE, CHRISTOPHER EUGENE, PUFFER PIGEON WI:. . 50' SETBACK DISTANCE INACTIVE GAS WELL API# 05-123-33646 INACTIVE GAS WELL API# 05-123-23815 PROPOSED PV PANELS PROPOSED SECURITY FENCE x PROPOSED LEASE AREA \ r ±890.9' NEAREST RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SEE TURNAROUND DETAIL. SHEET 4.0 DETAIL 3 PROPOSED PERMANENT STORAGE TRAILERS PROPOSED TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION TRAILER PROPOSED OVERHEAD POWER CONNECTION EXISTING 20' RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT RECEPTION NO. 1427553 PROPOSED POWER POLES a s. Mb, I I x x S MJ air 7I a • J lair air lak p II U a • MIS CLOUDBREAK© Site Plan Antelope Hill 1 Antelope Hill 2 ExsTNc FENCE. f -- ENE. .C. DISTANCE - :A5 WELL 3-3364E :;AS NELL -_ ≥3-238'5 OWNER: SCHAEFER HENRY FARM LLC MS ea* r PROPOSED PV 'ANELS PROPOSED - SECURITY FENCE \ PROPOSED LEASE AREA .NR9).9' NEARS- SESDENTAL BUILDING 50. U SFr 11IRNAROIN) DFTAII SHEET 40 DE-All.".� PROPOSED PERMANENT STORAGE TRAILERS PROPOSED TENT ORARY CONSTRUCTION TP.AII FP PROPOSED OVERHEAD POWER CONNECTICN-*S x EXISTING 20' RGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENT RECEP-ION NO. t22053 PROPOSED 'OWER POLES 1 it 50.0'! x x a-60aman — ea= as e Via. EXISTING 30' RIGHT-OF-WAY HOCK 'S6 Al MAGI 2 /., • laMOOMI-01.—a a -- w •"'--GRBCULTIIRAL ` : 080517300047 OWNCR: ULRIOH STEVEN K (1/4 INT) ULRICH LONNA A (1/8 tNTJ ULRICH ELMER H. h CLARA (JT 1/8 INT) MCGLOIHILIN DEBORAH L. TRUST MCGLOTHLIII WILLIAM KELL 47.6191% or 1/2 INT MCGLOTHLIN CORDON 19.0475% OF 1/2 INT ExIS1rIG 2 -TRACK ROAD EXISTING EDGE OF CANAL 11/4, !- )OSTING WATER 'AEU. ♦ / It WATER I-UMI. 'O LONNELTON THROUGH SITE ANTELOPE HILL 2 VEHICULAR ENTRANCE GATE I It I PROPOSED COMME,• : -.L ACCESS FROM CI: .8 f:unc,r•crt. car Art Iry rc •C?:C:T , . VITAL PIPE \ '�• CxISTING 50' PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY k RECEPT10N NO. 4287241 - 110EPTION NO. 4287202 ` SEE TURI;AROUNG GET.=: L -. SHEET 4.0 DETAII 1(...:Ttr,U • V. ROA-) • r <- 144 .1 a 1=1R•I . �ull_t ?tit; C. wip • HICHWAAY 3?2. CR 68 1- ROPOSEO VEHICULAR ACCESS GATE TO . -SOLAR FARM. EMERGENCY CONTACT SIGN POSTED INCLUDING PROJECT OWNER, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR ELECTRICAL HAZARD srans EXISTING FOOT BRIDLE WIN WING WALLS PROPOSED USE OF EXISTING CULVERT • 1 la au ra--raill• M ZONE: AGRICULTURAL PARCEL: 080520100043 O.W' 0%. f3.RCON_FARMS..LLG._ , INACFIVE GAS WELLS API# 05-123-33548 API# 05-123-33549 API$ 05-123-35995 API# 05-123-33251 API# 05-123-33252 API# 05-123-33265 API# 05-123-33239 ACTIVE GAS WELLS API# 05-123-35997 Th ` APIS 05-123-35996 API# D5-123-10764 API # 05-123-33248 SURFACE USE AGREEMENT 200' BUFFER AROUND ACTIVE OIL AND GAS NELLI .\tAll. VEHICULAR ENTRANCE GATE -, z %AGE TO I :ri. (p•tN a- UUUUUUUU \ 25U� --� �_ afr'R1C.LT,:-cL ARCEL: 080520000036 WNER: NOLAN RICHARD r • n n r III : ,E -I- L'F E u U U U U u u u L x x I Y }/ PROPOSED EOUIP,/ENT = A. SEE SHEET 4.C DE All • PROPOSED TEMPORARY CONS1RUCTIC-N 71; Ali it=t,nr I AT.- EL- ..,>>: E ::411- a _ - - ZONE_ AGR1CULTLRAL PARCEL: 0805200000376 OWNER: HOOD SHEFtRI. LIARU\L'A. E EX1ST1NG 30' RIGHT-OF-WAY- BOCK Be AT PACE 2.73 s EXISTING GAS I E:( LA \ L� LIN `EXISTINL'3 - E CUIPUEI Ex1511NG WATER LINE EX1S11NG 1ELECON LINE Basic Project Information • 3-4 month construction timeline, starting in late 2024 and into early 2025. • 20-35 year project lifetimes. • No permanent lighting will be used on the projects. • The systems will produce no emissions or odors. • The panels are recyclable. CLOUDBREAK • The projects will be decommissioned according to Weld County guidelines, and will have a decommissioning bond in place to ensure there is always sufficient funding. • The projects, through module design and stow -angles, will not cast glare onto any neighboring home. • The projects will generate limited traffic after the 3-4 month construction period, with our land maintenance team visiting the properties on an as -needed basis and our solar maintenance team only visiting the properties 4-8 times per year. Traffic and Road CLOU DBREAK • Construction Traffic: During construction, the traffic will include about 15-20 pickups and 3-5 heavy vehicles per day, per project. • Operations Traffic: Once the systems are built, our solar maintenance team will only stop by approximately 4 to 8 times per year for system maintenance. Our shepherd and land maintenance team will stop by more frequently, on an as -needed basis. The projects will not generate consistent or significant traffic. • Road Upgrades: Where necessary, we will be upgrading the field roads that connect the projects to the County Roads. We will install new culverts across any ditch that we need to cross to ensure the infrastructure can handle the weight of our equipment. • Road Maintenance Agreement: We will be signing a Road Maintenance Agreement with Weld County, which makes us financially responsible for our proportional share of the associated costs for maintaining and/or improving designated public haul/travel routes during the construction of the projects. ACLOU DB REAK` Land Maintenance SHEEP GRAZING Sheep are expected to be grazing on each property a few times per year to maintain the vegetation at a height of 18-22 inches or less. Sheep grazing will be implemented across both projects to keep the properties agriculturally productive during the lives of the solar projects. o The sheep are typically fed feed grown in Weld County during the winter. Over $100,000 of feed is expected to be purchased from Weld County producers each year for the herd. o Any seed needed for the pastures will be purchased from Pawnee Buttes Seed in Greeley. O The sheep will be processed at Innovative Foods in Evans. 1 CLOUDBREAK &cs Location Analysis HOW DID WE CHOOSE THESE LOCATIONS? • Proximity to high -quality Xcel Energy distribution infrastructure that has the capacity for projects of these sizes • Proximity to Xcel Energy's substations • Outside of floodplains and wetlands • Relatively flat with no geotechnical constraints • Landowner enthusiasm • Avoids critical habitats with minimal to no impact on surrounding wildlife CLOUDBREAK Project Location Project Location CLOUDBREAK ttS.. CLOUDBREAK° Noise Analysis 55 dB - Weld County Maximum Number of Decibels Permitted from 7AM until 9PM of the Same Day 111111111111 u,ntyRICO _ _ "rrireta- - -- ,Ian soka flaw Paper Cc$I T . • _ e �LuanG Ott ' - a . OarOMR% On w.acttu cs Ctxennectll Maack. M►tlnn arse. •:':al .,t},. St : w ,.t 4 Tflt . 'ARCH SiftM (' P4 41' `JMI0I tai* £ on aptti) U404 theft N k baA r t0GLC+l %U% I:E# ' I T" all MS Ma. •?6t4t4 en)CI.Q Ana =OM i'. • Rapid Dry Restoration ALlaik Fir • at tM! U* M: VA: ifE 94(7 1.) tin' 411 a 1*cttccn ltte-14ARy OK5Ft.c11pn r> . a h Cal Akar _ a i- -3; .a.{ ..tee_ I. _ - a :ia_ _-- i ..' _ Otis -L saga •alb s L r9 t at A., 1 illkei . . r. 1-r4 felt .la}- 1 • _ w tr • a Y L r. y clot r • eir - ; ., �-1► r� - -; at 9 I1 Ir • t• 4r 14 h l ' I iI -1.-[ R Y4 cia-— asar- i •`' 441- r --WES - glikt a Environmental Concerns Panels are made up of: 76% Glass, 10% Plastic, 8% Aluminum, 5% Silicon, 1% other metals Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) results: LEACH: According to the Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) test from September 2022 commissioned by ZNSHINE, the manufacturer of the panels that we plan to use on these projects, no lead was detected in the panels. CADMIUM Cadmium is only contained in a special type of solar cell called thin-film. These projects will not be utilizing thin-film solar panels. ARSENIC: According to the TCLP test, 1.0 mg/L of arsenic was found in the laminate, 1.4 mg/L was found in the frame, and 1.0 mg/L was found in the J -box. For arsenic to be considered toxic in Colorado according to the Code of Colorado Regulations Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, it must be present at a level greater than 5.0 mg/L. BARIUM: According to the TCLP test, 0.03 mg/L of barium was found in the frame of the panel. For barium to be considered toxic in Colorado according to the Code of Colorado Regulations Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, it must be present at a level greater than 100.0 mg/L. CLOUDBREAK MERCURY: According to the TCLP test, 0.08 mg/L of mercury was found in the J -box of the panel. For mercury to be considered toxic in Colorado according to the Code of Colorado Regulations Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division, it must be present at a level greater than 0.2 mg/L. No other elements were found in the TCLP test. Electromagnetic Interference According to the U.S. Department of the Navy: CLOUDBREAK "The only component of a PV array that may be capable of emitting EMI is the inverter. Inverters, however, produce extremely low frequency EMI similar to electrical appliances and at a distance of 150 feet from the inverters the EM field is at or below background levels." All residences are located further than 150 feet away from the inverters. Fire Risk Mitigation Just like all electrical equipment, there is a risk of fire at a solar project. CLOUDBREAK One 2021 study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems found that, of the more than 2 million solar plants in Germany, only 0.006% of them caused a fire resulting in serious damage. • For context, according to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments respond to an estimated average of 172,900 home structure fires per year started by cooking activities and there are 124,010,992 households in the US according to the Census. So, 0.14% of households in the US will experience a significant cooking fire each year. Should a ground fault be detected by the projects' software, inverters will automatically shutdown and disconnect the DC module strings from the AC electric systems. The inverters also do this when sensing any fluctuations out of limit within the electric grid the systems are tied to. An automatic shutdown will be located within each inverter. Our team will also have remote capabilities to disconnect the systems and shut down each electrical component in case of emergency. As a contingency, there are also manual disconnects as follows: • Inverters: each inverter will have a DC and AC disconnect switch • Inverters and Main Equipment Pad: each AC panelboard will have a break serving as a disconnect switch • Main equipment pad: The main system disconnect switch will be located within the switchgear • As a note, all of the equipment listed above is located in the same area of the project, right next to the access road, providing easy access to the local Fire Department in case of emergency. A Knox Padlock or a Knox Key Switch will be located on the gate of the access road to allow first responders to access the properties in case of emergency. Property Values CLOU DBREAK Studies from Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation, Advanced Power Alliance and the Solar Energy Industries Association, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Rhode Island, Dr. Nino Abashidze at the School of Economics at Georgia Institute of Technology, the Chisago County (Minnesota) Assessor's Office, CohnReznick, LLP, Kirkland Appraisals, LLC, Christian P. Kaila & Associates, and the Chair of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers have shown that solar projects do not adversely impact neighboring property values. The 2023 study from Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation, Advanced Power Alliance and the Solar Energy Industries Association found that "Large solar projects have no negative impact on property values." • Researched property values near 6 utility scale solar projects across Texas and compared the sales metrics/market trends to similar markets as a control • Sale metrics - price per interior square foot, sale to list price ratios, and days on market- in subject areas were compared to control area sales located further from solar projects. Results showed the subject areas trended similarly to the control areas. • Market interviews with local market experts and agents associated with sales proximate to solar projects also confirmed the market trend results Glare CLOUDBREAK • Glare: The panels are treated with an anti -reflective coating and reflect as little as two percent of incoming sunlight. o This is less than both water and windows. • Solution: To remove the risk of glare to neighboring properties, we can stow the panels at a 5 -degree angle rather than at a 0 -degree angle. The resting angle of a tracking system at the end of the backtracking range can have a large impact on glare produced near sunrise and sunset. When the sun is low on the horizon, an angle (even a slight angle) is needed to reflect light in a more upward trajectory, minimizing the light reflected to observers. Extreme Weather Events CLOU DBREAK Hail Damage: • Solar panels are designed to meet IEC 61215 and IEC 61646 standards, both of which test a panel's resistance to lab -produced, 25 mm hail. • The projects will be closely monitored to ensure they are producing the amount of electricity that they are projected to produce, so damage will be instantly noticed. In the case of a very severe storm, our team will check on the systems within 24 hours or less to ensure everything is okay. In our team's experience, hail damage is rare. • Our phone number will also be posted on the projects' gates so the neighbors can call in case they have concerns after a storm. Extreme Weather Events CLOU DBREAK Wind Damage: • The racking we are planning to use (Array Technologies DuraTrack) has been tested to withstand 140 mph winds, and potentially higher depending on other project conditions. • The projects will be closely monitored to ensure they are producing the amount of electricity that they are projected to produce, so damage will be instantly noticed. In the case of a very severe storm, our team will check on the systems within 24 hours or less to ensure everything is okay. In our team's experience, wind damage is rare. • Our phone number will also be posted on the projects' gates so the neighbors can call in case they have concerns after a storm. Energy Stability, Security, and Affordability CLOUDBREAK A 5 MWac solar garden can power approximately 13 pivots each hour • Assuming a 25 HP motor on each pivot. Each pivot consumes approximately 18.65 kilowatts per hour. • A 5 MWac Solar Project will produce approximately 244.98 kilowatts per hour. • Solar gardens will provide the local farming community with more power generation, thereby helping to increase energy stability, security, and affordability. Farmers throughout Colorado experience intermittent voltage drops and fluctuations, due to weakening electrical infrastructure. • These voltage drops impact the efficiency of farm equipment, and can trigger breaker flips, cutting off electricity entirely. • Voltage drops occur due to "increased load density [on electrical lines], feeder length, and line losses" (Eaton). Cloudbreak Energy will upgrade the existing electrical infrastructure that is in proximity of the solar project. • Updated infrastructure can mitigate voltage drops by decreasing the electrical load on certain electrical lines and by decreasing line losses. The costs of farming are rising. • Subscribing to the Antelope Hill 1 and 2 Solar Project will allow farmers to save 10% on their residential Xcel electricity bill. Drainage CLOUDBREAK Per the Weld County Land Use Code, we requested a Drainage Report from Kimley Horn for both Antelope Hill 1 and Antelope Hill 2. These reports both conclusively stated that the "installation of the solar facility is not expected to impact existing drainage patterns or flows rates on or around the project site." Property Values (continued) CLOU DBREAK The study from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin found the following: "The researchers, in partnership with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, surveyed approximately 400 property value assessors nationwide, asking if the assessor believed there was an impact on home prices near these sites, the scale and direction of those impacts, and the source of those impacts. The results indicate that most assessors who responded to the survey believe that "proximity to a solar installation has either no impact or a positive impact on home values." The study found that the respondents believe that some features of solar facilities may be associated with positive impacts, such as a location on land that previously had an unappealing use, or the presence of trees or other visual barriers around the array. Furthermore, as the expected lifetime of a solar facility is at least thirty years, residents have assurance the nearby land will not be redeveloped for an unfavorable use." (emphasis added) Agrivoltaics Agrivoltaics is the use of land for both agriculture and solar energy generation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, solar grazing is a "form" of agrivoltaics, which "integrates livestock and pastures." According to the Colorado Department of Agriculture, agrivoltaics is "one or more solar energy generation facilities directly integrated with agricultural activities, including crop production, grazing, animal husbandry, apiaries, cover cropping to improve soil health or insect habitat benefits or carbon sequestration, or production of agricultural commodities for sale in the retail or wholesale market." Animal husbandry is widely accepted as a form of agrivoltaics. We are leaving the agricultural land untitled, offering the advantage of allowing the soil to replenish nutrients naturally, fostering biodiversity, and promoting the growth of native plants, thus promoting soil health. After the life of the solar project, the land will return to agricultural production healthier than before. Ve9eklioo g rnin between awl underneath panels Alternative con Agrivoltaics: Sheep Are In Demand CLOUDBREAK Solar grazing provides shepherds with income and land to graze their sheep. There is a need to increase domestic mutton and Iamb production. • Wholesale lamb market climbed by 50% in 2022 to "record -breaking levels" (Western Livestock Journal) o American Lamb Board: "Per capita lamb consumption was 1.36 pounds per person in 2021, the highest level since the early 1990s." • According to the Livestock Marketing Information Center, lamb production is down 9.1% from this time last year, and, according to the American Sheep Industry Association, lamb and mutton imports are down significantly (March 2023). • Land is expensive, which limits a shepherd's ability to expand. This mutual relationship allows sheep ranchers to expand their flocks and make a profit. https://www.wl j. net/top headlines/what-will-2022-bring-in-the-american-sheep-industry/article 8cObdOfc-8059-11 ec-902c-97f967cb405f.html https://www.sheepusa.org/magazines/june-2023 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/11 /26/781652195/after-wwi i-mutton-fel I -out -of -favor -in -the -u -s -can -it -make -a -comeback Weld County Guiding Principles A. Respecting Our Agricultural Heritage. Weld County has an agricultural heritage built upon the hard work of pioneers and farmers on traditional family farms. Weld County is now one of the most economically productive agricultural counties in the nation. The Weld County Right to Farm Statement and the Goals and Objectives in this Plan support the importance of agriculture in the County. A. Respecting Private Property Rights. One of the basic principles upon which the United States was founded is the right of citizens to own and utilize property so long as that use complies with local regulations and does not interfere with or infringe upon the rights of others. A. Promoting Economic Growth and Stability. Land use policies have a significant impact on economic conditions in the County and should be structured to encourage economic prosperity. To ensure the continued strength of Weld County's economy, land use processes and decisions based on this plan shall be consistent and promote fiscally responsible growth. A. Protecting Health, Safety, and General Welfare. Land use regulations and policies will protect and enhance the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Weld County. 4 _.4 Akar _ a i- -3; .a.{ ..tee_ I. _ - a :ia_ _-- i ..' _ Otis -L saga •alb s L r9 t at A., 1 illkei . . r. 1-r4 felt .la}- 1 • _ w tr • a Y L r. y clot r • eir - ; ., �-1► r� - -; at 9 I1 Ir • t• 4r 14 h l ' I iI -1.-[ R Y4 cia-— asar- i •`' 441- r --WES - glikt a b 76 .D EXHIBIT 2 MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission DATE: February 6, 2024 FROM: Molly Wright, Planning Services SUBJECT: USR23-0024 Completion of Conditions of Approval COA 1. Prior to recording the map: A. The applicant shall submit documentation of an access permit or written approval, from the Colorado Department of Transportation, for access onto Highway 392. (Development Review) Response: An email was received from the applicant on February 2, 2024, with a CDOT access permit attached. bto EXHIBIT 3 MEMORANDUM TO: Planning Commission DATE: February 6, 2024 FROM: Molly Wright, Planning Services SUBJECT: USR23-0024 Replace Condition COA C. The map shall be amended to delineate the following: 12. Show the approved Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) access point on the plan and label with the approved access permit number, if applicable. (Development Review) Response: Replace the above Condition of Approval with ""Show the approved Colorado Department of Transportation access permit number. Label the access points to be closed as "Close and Reclaim." (Development Review)" Hello