Letter to the Editor
We are on the precipice of a decision that will either undermine or reinforce Colusa’s values. The Board of Supervisors will soon decide whether to approve a permit for a solar farm on my land on Spring Valley Road.
My family has owned this land for 60 years, but drought and falling crop prices have made it increasingly difficult to maintain a profitable operation. This is why we partnered with RWE, as we consider farming the sun the most economical option, one that will use less than ten percent of our land while allowing us to continue cattle grazing on the rest. Solar electricity generation is an allowable use of the land, does not require water, is temporary, and would not only help my family diversify our income but will also be a significant source of income for Colusa County through the property taxes it would generate, including much-needed funding for parks and fire protection.
So, what’s the problem? My neighbors have decided they don’t want to look at it despite most of them not living on these properties! The solar panels will be hardly visible, setback 200 ft from the nearest property line, and no taller than a center-pivot irrigation system. Unfortunately, these families have a lot of weight in this county, and I fear they might sway our supervisors to vote against protecting farmer rights and against their own general plan.
Many of us choose to live in Colusa County because it is a community that takes care of each other and protects traditional values and individual rights. Here, landowners can decide what to do on their land and are not told what to do by the government, unlike many of the counties around us. But it is important to look towards the future and consider what is best for Colusa County, to think of alternatives that will allow the County to continue to thrive, and Projects like Janus Solar or the recently approved Sites Reservoir have the potential to do exactly that.
Chair Evans and the Supervisors can solidify their legacy as a Board that welcomes thoughtful development while representing the County’s best interests, values, and traditions. Will the Board vote with the people and uphold Colusa County’s values, or will it side with the vocal minority? For the sake of this County, I hope it is the former.
Rex Favero,
Williams