Friday, March 23, 2018

USA, California: Imperial County Geothermal Planner Retires

Imperial County Planning Division Manager Richard Cabanilla Retires After 34 Years

The Imperial County Planning & Development Services Department honored Planning Division Manager Richard Cabanilla for 34 Years of Service to the County of Imperial at a recent meeting.

Charlene Wardlow,
Geothermal Program Manager,
California Department of Conservation
helps Richard Cabanilla celebrate!
Mr. Richard Cabanilla began his employment with Imperial County in January 1984, as the County's first Geothermal Planner tasked with updating the 1977 Geothermal Element of the General Plan.

Given Mr. Cabanilla's passion and understanding of geothermal processes, all subsequent Geothermal Element updates, including the latest Renewable Energy and Transmission Element updates, were processed by him.

Not only did Mr. Cabanilla write the majority of the regulations for geothermal development in the County, he processed or mentored his fellow Planners in processing numerous geothermal projects submitted during his tenure. These geothermal projects include North Brawley, East Brawley, South Brawley, Heber, East Mesa, ORNI 19, ORNI 21, Energy Source, Control Thermal Resource/Hell Kitchen, only to name a few.


Although Mr. Cabanilia was the resident expert on geothermal regulations and development, he was much more as our senior most planner. For example, Mr. Cabanilla reviewed and processed the County's first solar project, he was the Project Manager for the 1993 Conservation and Open Space Element update and is currently drafting the County's new Environmental Justice Element to be a part of the General Plan.

In essence, when it comes to land use development in the County, Mr. Cabanilla was our "Renaissance Man" with over 30 years of institutional knowledge at multiple levels of government.

Therefore, as a result of Mr. Cabanilla's commitment and dedication to development, the Planning and Development Services Department would like to honor Mr. Cabanilla for his 34 years of professional, unsurpassed efficiency and inspirational service to the County of Imperial.

Thanks to Charlene Wardlow for providing the information.