Full Text
Appendix D Comprehensive Plan Amendments Klickitat County Energy Overlay Environmental Impact Statement ---PAGE BREAK--- KLICKITAT COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS NEW SECTION Concern: Natural Resources/energy Findings: Based on population projections and other information, the Pacific Northwest will experience power shortages in the next 20 years. Klickitat County possesses characteristics that potentially enable it to become a significant contributor to power production in the future: Klickitat County is centrally located in the Pacific Northwest region; several major Bonneville Power Administration (“BPA”) power transmission lines criss-cross Klickitat County; Klickitat County is relatively sparsely populated, so that potential conflicts between power production and surrounding uses can be minimized with proper long range land use planning; a major natural gas line traverses Klickitat County; and, Klickitat County is endowed with natural resources that are essential to power production. Certain energy technologies are particularly well suited for Klickitat County: - Wind. The geographic location of Klickitat County lends itself to relatively consistent/reliable wind power. Wind power is generally compatible with agriculture and other open land uses. Wind power can adversely affect avian species – but recent innovations in turbine and tower design have demonstrated that impacts to avian resources can be reduced to less than significant levels. Wind turbines can also have aesthetic impacts. However, perceptions of aesthetic impacts vary with individuals’ values, and because of Klickitat County’s rural nature, if sensitively sited, aesthetic impacts can be reduced to less than significant levels. - Gas-Fired Generation. A high-capacity natural gas line traverses Klickitat County east to west. Natural gas is a comparatively clean energy resource that can be used to generate power via thermal plants. - Biomass. A significant part of Klickitat County’s economic base is agriculture and wood processing – both produce waste material and by-products that can be used to produce power. Also, the Roosevelt Landfill is producing methane gas that is currently used to produce power – there is potential for increased production as the landfill expands. Biomass/biogas has significant potential and is preferred energy development. - Solar Energy. Klickitat County is sparsely populated and is situated on the east, dry- side of the Cascade Mountains. Klickitat County’s geographic location lends itself to a somewhat predictable number of cloud-free days per year that could be conducive to development of solar power. Solar energy is an emission free energy resource and if sensitively sited with respect to wildlife habitat, stormwater, and other issues, can be sited with less than significant adverse impacts. Klickitat County Energy Overlay FEIS Page D-1 50384253.03 ---PAGE BREAK--- Goal: To encourage energy development in locations within Klickitat County that take advantage of the County’s energy resources, existing infrastructure, and also are sited to minimize environmental impacts. Policies: 1. Energy development should be compatible with surrounding land uses. 2. Energy development should be designed and sited with informed consideration of environmental impacts. 3. Energy development that utilizes wind, gas fired generation, biomass, and solar are preferred and shall be encouraged. These technologies, if sensitively sited, designed, and mitigated can be sited without significant, adverse environmental impacts. 4. Areas particularly suitable for energy development are identified in an “energy overlay” which permits preferred energy development “outright.” Areas suitable for energy development are those locations that take advantage of the County’s energy resources, existing infrastructure, and when sensitively sited will likely result in less than significant adverse, environmental impacts. The “energy overlay” shall include siting standards as a means of addressing characteristics and issues of each site. 5. Energy development in areas not included in the “energy overlay” shall be subject to review through a conditional use process. Klickitat County Energy Overlay FEIS Page D-2 50384253.03