Craig Campbell, executive director and founder of the Clearlake-based US Solar Solutions and Affordable Housing Alternatives, went to the board to share his idea for the plant.
He asked for a letter of support to assist him as he moves forward with seeking private and government funding for the project, which is in its early planning stages.
Campbell said part of the mission of the nonprofit groups he founded is education and retraining of disrupted labor forces.
“We're not just going to make (solar) panels, we're going to train the labor forces,” he explained during the 45-minute discussion.
The 15-megawatt plant he envisions locating in the county – so far, Lakeport has been named as a possible location – would have onsite and distance learning opportunities managed by a local community college.
He said there is a funding opportunity of up to $30 million from the U.S. Department of Energy focusing on a photovoltaic manufacturing initiative.
Giving an overview of the solar industry, Campbell said much of the production is offshore, with South Korean and Japanese companies becoming major players.
Supervisor Denise Rushing wanted to know how competitive Campbell's application would be, and asked if numbers and a business model had been developed.
Campbell responded that at this point he is seeking funding from private foundations to support the required project planning. “We have a lot we have to address,” including the business plan and legal issues,” he said.
Rushing asked if he was at the point that the business plan wasn't laid out. He said yes.
He explained that he envisioned a factory that operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with 150 employees at full buildout and an annual payroll of between $10 million and $14 million. The plant would be run on a nonprofit model, with a board of directors.
Affordable Housing Alternatives currently has a Bay Area-based board of directors. “That's not going to work for this project,” Campbell said.
Campbell suggested one of the supervisors might want to sit on the board of directors, but Supervisor Jim Comstock suggested they wouldn't be able to do that due to conflicts of interest.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington questioned why they couldn't do it, since some supervisors currently sit on local nonprofit boards of directors. Supervisor Jeff Smith agreed, pointing out his activity on a local chamber board.
“This is not your average nonprofit,” Rushing replied.
Smith asked if it would be a different story after the plant location was settled and it was in operation.
“It could be,” said County Counsel Anita Grant.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox pointed out, “This is going to operate basically as a business.”
Farrington asked about Mendocino College's commitment to the project. Campbell said he met with the dean of instruction, who was excited about the concept.
Campbell said he wanted to see internships and college credits available for those wanting to work at the plant to learn skills. “That's a huge component of it.”
Rushing said she didn't know if there was a down side to offering the letter but added, “I'm not sure how competitive this is yet.”
She said the Department of Education is going to want specifics about a funding plan and the plant's director, adding there will be a lot of competition.
Campbell said the project currently is seeking private funding in order to get off the ground, and that the approach to the Department of Education for funding is down the road.
Supervisor Rob Brown suggested, “We need to come out very strong in favor of this,” and not just leave it at a symbolic letter of support.
He said a county administrative staffer could offer some help with the letter.
“There's a lot of potential here,” he said, adding that the board should not just write a letter but work to make sure the plan gets the help it needs.
Rushing suggested the county could assist with getting a business plan together. She said a letter from the board wasn't going to sway the Department of Energy, which would be looking for the plan.
Brown said the county needed to show its interest in having the project. “We need to be more proactive with it and have a genuine support that goes beyond the letter that's approved today.”
Comstock agreed with Brown. While solar production is good for the world, Comstock said, “I'm particularly interested in what it's going to do for Lake County.”
Smith agreed that the county should do whatever it can to make sure it happens.
Farrington asked if the nonprofit would have two different boards. Campbell said the Bay Area board would be retired and a local board would be assembled.
Brown said there's “a lot of talent up here in Lake County that's untapped right now” for such projects.
Rushing asked Campbell if he had a letter in mind. Farrington said Campbell had suggested a template, but that they could work on it and bring it back.
Campbell said he envisioned coming back to the board for different endorsement letters once the process of pursuing specific funding opportunities begins.
Rushing asked if he was simply seeking a letter supporting the concept. Campbell said yes.
Brown moved to approve a letter expressing strong support for the project, which the board approved 5-0.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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