SEQUIM — City Council members have agreed to work on a solar energy ordinance before tackling regulation of wind power.
The Sequim City Council reached a nonbinding consensus Monday.
“I agree we should keep solar and wind separate to move forward,” said council member Ted Miller.
“But I think we should continue to work on a wind ordinance.”
Interim Planning Director Joe Irvin and the council agreed that more public outreach was needed, including with the North Peninsula Home Builders Association and Clallam County Public Utility District.
Later, Irvin said a public hearing could be conducted, and the council agreed.
Renewable energy
One of the council’s goals is to establish Sequim as a renewable energy leader.
Staff members have drafted a renewable energy ordinance that provides standards and guidance for the use of solar and wind energy.
The importance of building and lot orientation is part of the proposal.
The idea is that to get the most from a building site, the sun and how it affects the site must be taken into consideration, Irvin said.
“The sun or lack of sun adds to heating and cooling of a home,” he said in a memo to the council.
Irvin said city staffers also want to provide in the proposed ordinance “alternative methods” of compliance, perhaps through conservation and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certifications of buildings.
‘Solar-oriented’ lots
The proposed ordinance would include mandatory “solar-oriented” lots for major subdivisions and consideration of shading issues for major subdivision.
It would require 65 percent of lots smaller than 15,000 square feet to be positioned in a manner that protects solar access for future homeowners.
Irvin said staff members believe that, with Sequim’s topography, such a provision should not be an undue burden on future developers.
Should a particular project have difficulty in meeting this requirement, however, staff members have included a provision that allows for other options to be in compliance, he said.
The shading provision would require major subdivisions, where feasible, to position structures in a manner that does not interfere with another structures’ solar access.
Staff did not include provisions that would apply to existing residences.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
