Halimi talked about solar power helping to combat climate change and helping California’s push to have 100 percent renewable electric power by 2045.

“This proposal is an opportunity for Napa County to be part of the solution,” he said.

Planning Commissioners said they want to see commercial solar power generated in the county. But several also agreed that the county needs regulations.

Commissioner Dave Whitmer said the county during its climate action plan discussions might begin prezoning where solar farms should go – and more importantly, where they shouldn’t go.

Commissioner Jeri Hansen said the county could identify renewable energy zones. These would be the areas that are most appropriate for solar arrays and other projects at various scales and sizes.

“It’s really too bad we don’t have the renewable zoning already,” Commissioner Joelle Gallagher said.

That raises the question of whether the Planning Commission will approve the American Canyon solar project in advance of the county taking a harder look at commercial solar in general. The county Board of Supervisors has yet to launch such an effort or even say that it wants to do so.