California Valley Solar Ranch

Project Specifications

Client: San Luis Obispo County

Location: San Luis Obispo County

Services: Environmental Review & Permitting, Air Quality & Climate Services, Biological Resources, Client Support, Compliance & Construction Monitoring, Planning & Public Policy

Aspen prepared an EIR on behalf of San Luis Obispo County for the CVSR proposed by SunPower Corporation. SunPower proposed to con­struct and operate a controversial 250 MW solar photovoltaic power plant on approxi­mately 4,000 acres of rangeland in the Carrizo Plain, an unincorpo­rated portion of eastern San Luis Obispo County. SunPower’s proposal also included an elec­trical substation, a 2.8-mile trans­mis­sion line, and an aggregate mine north of the project site. As a part of the whole of the action under CEQA, Aspen concurrently eval­u­ated reconductoring of 35 miles of PG&E’s Morro Bay-Midway 230 kV transmission line, which is a necessary action for delivery of the proj­ect’s power to the regional grid.

Key components of the proposed project are:

• Solar arrays over nearly 1,850 acres

• Electric substation, operations, and maintenance building

• Public viewing areas

• 2.8-mile 230 kV line

Aspen prepared a comprehensive environmental document in close coordination with the County. This controversial project would be located within core habitat for protected wildlife spe­cies, and its primary construction route is located in close proximity to a small community and elementary school. The key issues associated with this project include GHG emissions, agricul­ture, visual impacts, noise, traffic impacts, and biological impacts. Coordination with PG&E and the CPUC with regard to the switching station and associated transmission facilities was also part of this project. The EIR included an evaluation of the transmission facilities to address the “whole of the action” as required by CEQA. This assessment was included as an appendix in the EIR and is being used by the CPUC in its review of PG&E’s application for the transmission upgrades. Aspen also coordinated with the County Administrative Office to identify and quantify the fiscal impacts associated with the construction and operation of the project. The Socioeco­nomic and Fiscal Impact Report was included as an appendix to the EIR.

Aspen carried out a full public participation program for this EIR. In addition, Aspen supported the County at numerous Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors approval hearings, prepared documentation defending the certi­fied EIR in response to appeals to the Plan­ning Commission certification decision and carried out project monitoring activities dur­ing construction.