Memorandum
Date: July 14, 2026
To: The Honorable Brad Rasmussen, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Susan Parker, County Administrative Officer
Benjamin Rickelman, Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: 1:00 P.M. - Consideration of Ad Hoc Energy Policy Committee Recommendation to Pause Consideration of Community Choice Aggregator Membership Due to Potential Changes in the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment
Executive Summary:
1. The Ad Hoc Energy Policy Committee recommends the Board direct staff to issue a Request for Proposals for a County Energy Element with a companion Energy Policy developed in-house to secure community benefits from energy projects.
2. The Committee recommends continuing introductory meetings with potential energy developers and stakeholders ahead of any formal permitting application, with the understanding these meetings in no way replace existing Community Development Department permitting processes.
3. The Committee recommends pausing consideration of Community Choice Aggregator membership until the Third Appellate case and the CPUC's Track 3 rulemaking are resolved, likely in 2027, at which point it will revisit the matter.
Background:
The Committee recommends the County develop two complementary tools for managing energy development. The first is an Energy Element, an optional element of the County General Plan (Government Code ? 65303) that would govern where energy development goes. An Energy Element can establish overlay zones where energy projects are encouraged, incorporate a community visioning process, build in protections for scenic, agricultural, and Tribal areas, and integrate with County zoning so both the community and developers have predictability. Several California counties offer instructive models, including Imperial County's Renewable Energy and Transmission Element, San Bernardino County's Renewable Energy and Conservation Element, and Kern County's system of by-right zoning paired wi...
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