Solano Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in Dixon’s economy.“The Solano EDC is really a leader in economic development across the county,” he says, helping attract businesses and align regional goals. Collaboration in Solano County extends to housing policy, where cities partnered to hire a single consultant for their housing element plans, saving resources and improving efficiency. “It was more economical, more efficient,” he notes. Local nonprofits, like Rotary and Kiwanis, also contribute significantly, with their efforts helping to strengthen Dixon’s social fabric and community spirit. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ELECTRIC CHALLENGES IN DIXON In California, sustainability and environmental responsibility are woven into nearly every facet of development, and Dixon is no exception. “California as a whole is very green,” Boloyan explains. The state has long been a leader in environmental policy, with many green initiatives embedded directly into building codes. “We don’t have anything that goes above and beyond those codes,” he adds, noting that simply following the state’s guidelines places Dixon ahead of many cities nationwide in terms of sustainable building practices. From energy efficiency standards to water conservation measures, developers in Dixon must meet these robust statelevel requirements as a baseline. However, the push toward greener development isn’t without its challenges. One of the most significant hurdles facing Dixon—and much of California— centers around the power grid. “One of the biggest issues we have right now, like all of California, is our power grid,” Boloyan says.“A lot of developments get stalled because there’s not enough power,” he notes, pointing out that the utility company responsible for Northern California, PG&E, often struggles to keep pace with demand due to competing priorities across the region. Dixon’s Roadmap: Priorities for the Next 18 Months 77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10 DIXON, CA
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