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<br />additional application submittal standards
<br />as well as development standards. The over-
<br />laydistrict also allows for a concept plan
<br />approval to give certainty to prospective
<br />geothermal developers. The city of Klamath
<br />Falls, Oregon, has adopted a yet another'
<br />flavor of geothermal overlay zone; it cov-
<br />ersthe enti re city. V~thin the overlay zone
<br />district, geothermal direct uses are reviewed
<br />by the plan ni ng department for consistency
<br />with the zone district designation, while
<br />the geothermal aspects ofthe project are
<br />sub]ectto approval ofthe city's public works
<br />department. Hawaii Couhty,.Hawaii,hos
<br />several geothermal "subzongs"that may
<br />6e designated based on criteria set by the
<br />state legislature. They have been mapped
<br />on parcels where geothermal development
<br />appears imminent.
<br />Incentives
<br />Hawaii County has adopted several incen-
<br />tives for geothermal energy development.
<br />The planning department in Hawaii County
<br />administers a geothermal relocation and
<br />community Benefit revolving fund. The funds
<br />benefit residents who wish to be relocated
<br />from the area around geothermal "sub-
<br />zones" suroundingthe Puna geothermal
<br />power plant. The county has also adopted a
<br />property tax exemption for the value of al-
<br />ternative energy production improvements,
<br />including geothermal energy.
<br />Zoning regulations that protect geother-
<br />malresource areas from incompatible devel-
<br />opmentcan also serve as a very important
<br />incentive to prospective geothermal devel-
<br />opers. Asnoted above, geothermal develop-
<br />mentcosts are front-loaded. Unexpected
<br />degradation of.the resource can reduce
<br />or eli m inate profitability of a geothermal
<br />venture. Over time, some agricultural and
<br />rural areas where wellfields are developed
<br />may face development pressure for other
<br />uses. Energy companies typicallylBase, not
<br />own outright, wellfields, and leases ofsub-
<br />surFacerights may be held independently
<br />of surface rights. Surface property owners
<br />may pursue land development opportunities
<br />that are not compatible with wellfields, such
<br />as residential development. It is important
<br />that local communities understand that a
<br />geothermafwellfield.permithos long-term..
<br />implications for land development opportu-
<br />nities. Communities with policies that signal
<br />such understanding orthat have regula-
<br />tionsthat make a commitment to protecting
<br />geothermal development are very desirable
<br />locations forgedthermal developers.
<br />The Imperial County energy zgnes
<br />mentioned above were proposed in the
<br />county's comprehensive plan forthe ex-
<br />plicitpurpose bfmaximizing geothermal
<br />energy.developmentond protecting exist-
<br />ingplants from urbanization thatwould
<br />create use cdnfiicts. Lakeview, Oregon,
<br />.has adopted a protective overlayzone
<br />that applies when a geothermal resource
<br />is identified. It prohibits degradation of a
<br />geothermal resource and development of
<br />any surface use that would preclude future
<br />use of the geothermal resource. A similar
<br />concept is used in Malheur County, where
<br />uses in the M-z manufacturing zone that
<br />are within a geothermal resource area must
<br />be reviewed to ensure that they wi fl not
<br />"seriously interfere" with future geothermal
<br />resource use and development.
<br />SUMMARY
<br />Communities with known br potential geo-
<br />thermalresources have employed a range
<br />of focal planning strategies to allow, en-
<br />courage,and protect geothermal resource
<br />development for direct use.and energy pro-
<br />duction.These include comprehensive plan
<br />goals and policies, and zoningtools such as
<br />conditional use permits, use standards, and
<br />overlayzone districts. Comprehensive plans
<br />are important for setting local priorities for
<br />geothermal development, even when geo-
<br />thertnalresources are on lands that are no[
<br />under local regulation authority.
<br />Geothermal power plants and direct
<br />uses are still relatively rare in the U.S. and
<br />each geothermal resource offers unique
<br />opportunities and challenges.
<br />Most planners and industry officials find
<br />thatthe conditional use permit process is
<br />the mostappropriate procedure forwork-
<br />ingout the challenges, concerns, an d
<br />constraints of a specific proposed geo-
<br />thermalenergy development to maximize
<br />the potential benefits. Permitting of direct
<br />use geothermal can be somewhat more
<br />standardized than geothermal energy de-
<br />velopment. Some communities with experi-
<br />encenow allow geothermal direct uses as
<br />by-right uses.
<br />Atthis time, there are a substantial
<br />number of local governments with permit-
<br />tingexperience and thoughtful regulations
<br />for geothermal development. These com-
<br />munitieswill serve as models forthe next
<br />generation of communities [hat grapple
<br />with geothermal development as the use
<br />ofthis beneficial resource increases in the
<br />United States.
<br />CORRECTION :.
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