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Lompoc Wind Energy
Project
What's New
Harley McDonald, project manager for Acciona Wind Energy USA, provided an update on the current project status, including a revised wind turbine layout, turbine color samples, photographs of Operations & Maintenance (O&M) buildings at other project sites, and photographs of agricultural buildings in the project area. CBAR provided guidance on O&M architectural style and directed the applicant return for further conceptual review. The Applicant was advised to provide concept design drawings and floor plan for the O&M building, location of the approved meteorological tower, and plans for grading of the access roads. For further information, contact the project planner John Day (805) 568-2045 ( jday@co.santa-barbara.ca.us).
Phase I Site Plan. Acciona presented the site plan for the initial phase of the project at the January 15 CBAR hearing. The plan includes 37 wind turbines, located in the approved construction corridors, mainly along the southern ridges of the project site. The turbine layout is based on additional analysis of the meteorological data by Acciona. The precise locations are subject to further, minor adjustments during development of the final grading and building plans. Follow this link to download the site plan.
Meteorological Tower Changes. A Land Use Permit (LUP) to allow changes in timing of installation and removal of Acciona’s meteorological towers on the Lompoc Wind Project site was approved by the Planning & Development Department on April 17, 2009. The LUP is based on a Substantial Conformity Determination (SCD), which documents that the modifications substantially conform to the approved Conditional Use Permit, according to established P&D criteria. An important benefit from the project changes is that only one permanent met tower, 30-meters high, will be erected, instead of up to 10, 80-meter towers, as originally approved in the Conditional Use Permit. The reduction of towers will lessen visual impacts and reduce potential for birds and bats to collide with the towers.
The Land Use Permit was appealed to the Planning Commission, which denied the appeal, accepted an addendum to the project EIR reflecting minor project changes, and approved the Land Use Permit in a hearing on July 15. Details are posted at the Planning Commission web site.
Appellants George and Cheryl Bedford appealed the Planning Commission decision to the Board of Supervisors. The Board denied the appeal and approved the Land Use Permit in final action on September 22, 2009. Details are posted at the Board of Supervisors web site.
Lawsuit Filed. On March 9, 2009 a lawsuit was filed against the County in the Superior Court of California, Santa Maria Branch (Case No. 1313465). The petitioners are George and Cheryl Bedford, who own and reside on property located adjacent to the project site. The lawsuit alleges that the EIR is inadequate under CEQA and that the project conflicts with Santa Barbara County General Plan and Land Use and Development Code. The County Counsel’s Office is currently in the process of preparing the administrative record for the case. A court hearing has been scheduled for April 20, 2010.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors certified the Final Environmental Impact Report and approved the Conditional Use Permit and Variance for the Lompoc Wind Energy Project in their regularly scheduled meeting in Santa Maria on February 10, 2009.
The Board of Supervisors hearings were held on February 10 to consider appeals filed by the California Department of Fish & Game (CDFG) and by George and Cheryl Bedford, whose residence is adjacent to the project. At the hearing, CDFG formally withdrew its appeal. The Board voted 4-0-1 (with Supervisor Gray recusing herself) to deny the Bedford appeal, certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), adopt required findings, and approve the project.
Detailed information on the appeals and County staff responses are available on the Board of Supervisors hearings website, along with public comment letters and other information. Go to “File Reference” under Departmental Items #5 and #6 on the Hearing Agenda page. Minutes and online video of the hearing are available at the Board hearings site. The hearing was televised live and recorded by the County government TV station. DVD copies can be purchased from CSBTV.
For further information, please contact John Day at (805)568-2045.
What’s
Next?
With approval of the Conditional Use Permit, the project will now move into the implementation phase. Pacific Renewable will finalize detailed project plans and work with County staff, CDFG, and other agencies to implement the required mitigation program for environmental impacts of construction. The applicable mitigation measures are provided in the Planning Commission Action Letter (9/30/08), as modified by Attachment D to the Board Letter. Pacific Renewable will develop detailed mitigation plans, as required in a number of permit conditions, and will consolidate them into an Environmental Quality Assurance Program (EQAP). Following County approval, the EQAP document will serve as the basis for implementing and enforcing the mitigation program.
The project may be built in several phases. For each construction phase, County staff will review proposed plans and other submittals, and must issue a Substantial Conformity Determination prior to issuance of each Land Use Permit. Land Use permits are appealable to the Planning Commission.
Pacific Renewable plans to begin construction in late 2010 and begin operation in late 2011.
For further information, please contact John Day at (805)568-2045.
Project Information
An application for a Major Conditional Use Permit was filed on February 21, 2006, for a wind energy project, to be located on the wind-swept ridges south of Lompoc, adjacent to Vandenberg AFB. This will be the first major wind energy project in the County and would provide a significant source of alternative energy. The applicant is Pacific Renewable Energy Generation LLC (“Pacific”), a subsidiary of Acciona Wind Energy USA, of Solana Beach, Calif.
The proposed project is situated entirely inland of the County’s Coastal Zone; the southern project boundary abuts the Coastal Zone boundary along the Vandenberg Air Force Base property line. The wind farm and power line will be located in the County’s 3rd Supervisorial District, except the final stretch of the power line will cross into the 4th District just south of the Lompoc City limit. The proposed wind farm consists of up to 65 wind turbines, each standing 389-397 feet high, including blades. Total electric generation capacity will be up to 97.5 megawatts, enough to power over 40,000 households. The power output will be sold to PG&E through a long-term power purchase agreement. A new power line will run from the project site to connect into an existing power line near PG&E’s Cabrillo Substation at the southwest corner of Lompoc. The wind turbines will be located on agriculturally-zoned grazing land (10 parcels; 2,950 acres), under 30-year lease agreements with the landowners. Existing gravel/dirt roads on the properties will be widened and some new roads constructed. Plans include an operations and maintenance building and an electrical substation on the project site. The project may be constructed in up to three phases over seven years. According to Harley McDonald, Pacific’s project manager, the company currently anticipates that approximately 40 turbines will be constructed in the first phase. These turbines will be located in the southern, central, and eastern areas of the project site, leaving the northwestern quadrant for a subsequent phase or phases.
The project application was found complete on June 1, 2006. Once the County determined that an EIR was required, a Notice of Preparation was filed with the State Clearinghouse on June 30, 2006. The County released the Draft EIR on July 17, 2007. Many comments were received, primarily on the Aesthetic/Visual and Biological Resource sections. The visual resources section was revised and recirculated for further public comment on May 6, 2008. The biological resources section was rewritten in response to comments to expand and clarify the description of existing biological resources (baseline) and to improve the analysis of anticipated environmental impacts and recommended mitigation measures, particularly regarding avian issues. The County released the proposed Final EIR on September 5, 2008.
Many project-related documents are posted on this website. They may be accessed through the links in the Project Chronology, below.
For further information, please contact John Day at (805) 568-2045.
Typical Landscape at Proposed
Project Site |
Wind Farm in
Similar Setting (Spain) |
Project
Chronology
- February 21, 2006 – Application
filed for Major Conditional Use Permit.
- May 24, 2006 – The Santa Barbara
County Planning Commission held a Conceptual
Review hearing on the project. Staff
gave a brief
overview , followed by a presentation
by Michelle Conway of Acciona
Wind Energy USA LLC. The staff’s
report for the hearing includes the
applicant’s project description
and a site map. It is available at
the Planning
Commission web site.
Public comments
were heard from the Community Environmental
Council, two City of Lompoc representatives,
a project parcel owner, a project neighbor,
and a Lompoc resident. Most speakers
were supportive of the project, but
identified a number of concerns, including:
a) possible viewshed impacts from the Lompoc
Valley; b) transmission line route; c)
ground water resources; and d) impacts
to Frick Springs, which is part of Lompoc’s
water supply.
The Commission took no action, as this
was a conceptual review hearing. The
Commissioners’ comments were generally
favorable and supportive of the project
proceeding to further review, while recognizing
that potential environmental impacts
have yet to be studied. Staff was urged
to proceed with environmental review
as soon as possible. The Commissioners’ comments
during the hearing are summarized in
the marked
agenda.
- June 1, 2006 – The permit
application was found complete for
processing.
- June 2, 2006 – The project
was reviewed by the County’s
Agricultural Preserve Advisory Committee,
as the project properties are under
Agricultural Preserve Contracts. The
Committee determined the project to
be consistent with the Uniform Rules
for Agricultural Preserves.
- June 30, 2006 – A Notice
of Preparation (NOP) was filed
with the State Clearinghouse. The
NOP initiated the Environmental Impact
Report ( EIR) preparation process.
- July 17, 2006 – An EIR Scoping
Meeting was held at Lompoc City Council
Chambers. Following a presentation
by County staff, members of the public
spoke about a number of potential adverse
impacts of the project, including bird
mortality from turbine operation and
visual impacts from turbines and power lines. Several
speakers described beneficial impacts.
- August 15, 2006 – The contract
for preparation of the EIR was approved
by the Santa Barbara County Board of
Supervisors. The consultant was selected
cooperatively by the Project Applicant
and the County.
- July 17, 2007 – Draft Environmental
Impact Environmental Report (EIR) released.
Public comment period began. The entire Draft
EIR is available for public review.
Copies are available for review in
Santa Barbara County Planning and
Development (P&D) offices and
several public libraries.
- Details are available on the Notice
of Availability. CD copies may
be obtained from our office.
The
Draft EIR identifies potential environmental
impacts, mitigation measures, residual
impacts and monitoring requirements.
It documents that the Project could have
significant short-term, construction
impacts in the following areas: Visual
Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources,
Cultural Resources, Fire Hazards/Emergency
Services, Geology/Soils, Land Use, Noise,
Paleontological Resources, Risk/Safety,
Traffic/Circulation, and Water Resources.
The Project could also have significant
long-term, operational impacts to Visual
Resources, Biological Resources, Fire
Hazards/Emergency Services, Land Use,
Noise, Risk/Safety, and Water Resources.
Most of the environmental impacts would
be reduced to less than significant through
implementation of mitigation measures
proposed by the Project Applicant and
other measures proposed by the County.
However, long-term operational impacts
to Visual Resources and Biological Resources
would remain significant and unavoidable.
Significant visual impacts would include
views of wind turbines from Jalama Beach
County Park and of the proposed new power
line along Highway 1 near Lompoc. The visual
impacts of the power line could be reduced
to less than significant by means of an
Applicant-proposed alternative route. Potential
for protected bird and bat species to be
killed through collisions with wind turbine
blades is found to be an unavoidable significant
impact to Biological Resources.
The Project’s significant and
adverse effects should be considered
in light of its beneficial effects. Beneficial
effects include generation of 80 to 120
megawatts of alternative energy and support
for continuing agricultural use of the
project area.
- August 6, 2007 – Public
workshop on Draft EIR held in
Lompoc.
- August 30, 2007 – Public
comment hearing on Draft EIR held in
Lompoc. Comments were presented by
eleven members of the public, organizations
and agencies. While most comments were
supportive of wind energy, concerns
were raised about the adequacy of the
draft EIR analysis in several issue
areas, including of potential impacts
to biological and visual resources,
and effects on local residents.
- September 4, 2007 – Close
of public comment period. Late submittals
were accepted from California Department
of Fish and Game (CDFG) and U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Twenty-nine
written comments were received. Comments
from the Audubon Society, Environmental
Defense Center, CDFG and USFWS center
on potential impacts to biological
resources, particularly birds. Comments
from California Department of Parks
and Recreation include concerns about
visual impacts on La Purisima Mission.
Comments from PG&E and California
Public Utilities Commission focus mainly
on jurisdictional questions relating
to the proposed power line from the
project site to Lompoc. Other issue
areas discussed in the comments include
visual impacts, noise, archeological
resources, traffic, impact on emergency
services, and effects on local residents.
- February 26, 2008 – New contract
approved for Aspen Environmental Group
to prepare the final EIR.
- May 6 – 20, 2008 – Partial recirculation of Visual Resources section of draft EIR. The following documents are available: Notice of availability, Cover letter for recirculated section, Revised draft Aesthetic/Visual Resources section.
- September 5, 2008 -- Proposed Final EIR released. The following documents are available on this website: Announcement of Availability; Final EIR.
- September 30, 2008 – Planning Commission hearing. The hearing notice is posted on this site. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to certify the EIR and to approve the Conditional Use Permit and associated Variance. The Commission adopted modifications to the EIR, as provided in Attachment F to the staff report prepared for this hearing. The final approved permit conditions, including modifications made during the hearing, are provided in the Planning Commission Action Letter for the September 30 hearing. The public comment letters for this hearing and errata submitted before the hearing are posted at the Planning Commission website.
The all-day hearing was well attended. During the public comment period 37 people spoke, most expressing strong support for the project. Significant adverse impacts of the project were raised and discussed. Property owners adjacent to the project site expressed concern about noise and visual impacts. Representatives of the environmental community, including Environmental Defense Center and Audubon Society, asked the Commission to consider more stringent protections, monitoring, and mitigation measures for birds and bats, which may be killed by the wind turbines. The Commission approved the project with minor modifications to the proposed bird mortality monitoring program and project decommissioning provisions. The CEQA findings of approval include a Statement of Overriding Considerations that project approval is warranted, notwithstanding that not all significant environmental impacts are fully mitigated.
The hearing was televised live and recorded by the County government TV station. DVD copies can be purchased from CSBTV. The hearing is posted in 6 parts on the CSBTV Archives site.
Please follow the links to the staff report, final conditions of approval, and Final EIR. The public comment letters for this hearing are posted at the Planning Commission website.
- October 9-10, 2008 – Project Appeal. The Planning Commission's certification of the EIR and approval of the project was appealed to the County Board of Supervisors. Appeals were filed by George and Cheryl Bedford and by the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG). The appeal hearings were docketed on the Board of Supervisors meeting Agenda for December 16, 2008. Please see the Hearing Notice. At the December 16 Board meeting the project applicant and representatives of CDFG requested a continuance of the CDFG appeal hearing, because the parties expect to resolve the appeal issues through negotiations, which have been fostered by the County’s facilitated negotiation process. The Applicant also requested a continuance of the Bedford appeal hearing, to continue working to resolve issues raised by the Bedfords and also because the two appeals are interrelated. The Board voted 4-0-1 (with Supervisor Gray recusing herself) to continue both hearings to February 10, 2009. Please follow the links to the Board Letters and other documents related to the Bedford hearing and the CDFG hearing.
- February 10, 2009 – Final EIR certification and permit approval by the Board of Supervisors. Please see “What’s New,” above.
Planning and Development staff contact for this project is John Day (805)568-2045.
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