BIG ENERGY PROJECTS DOMINATE AGENDA AT BOULEVARD PLANNING GROUP

By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2023 (Boulevard, CA) – The community room at the Boulevard Sheriff station was packed for  Boulevard Planning Group’s meeting on August 3, with updates on a dozen major energy projects on the agenda.

Some are moving forward, some have been withdrawn, others face legal challenges, and several remain in the pipeline.

The board also addressed other issues ranging from potential impacts of the county's cannabis ordinance to the appointment of two new board members.

STARLIGHT SOLAR

The proposed Starlight Solar project would generate 100 megawatts (MW with eight solar arrays, a battery storage system, substation, and more on 565 acres in Jewel Valley  on a 4,000 acre Hagan ranch that is the second largest in our region. View county documents.

Jim Whalen (photo, right), a consultant for the project, said the developer is striving to be sure a wildlife corridor is maintained for deer and badgers, and said he’s reaching out to tribes on cultural resources.

Whalen voiced support for solar over wind projects as providing "more bang for the buck" while using less land, though he has been a consultant on wind projects including Tule Wind. He also voiced enthusiasm for "packaged nuclear," a term referring to smaller-scale nuclear power plants. San Diego County has no nuclear facilities since decomissioning of San Onofre following leakage of radioactive fluid there.

In an effort to woo support for Starlight Solar, Whalen also proposed a list of potential community benefits that could be funded if the project is approved. Those include:

• Completion of a four-acre community park;
• An ethnobotany study wanted by tribes to study plants traditional used for food, health or rituals;
• Underground some power lines; the challenge will be choosing which ones;
• Create a small retail center with a community serving element on the site of the former Clover Flat Elementary School;
• Provide more generators;
• Set up a help desk for residents who need assistance with outside agencies on issues, because many residents complain about not getting responses.

Starlight Solar is currently in the process of doing technical studies, such as of groundwater, biological and cultural resources, and potential to create local jobs.

One resident objected (photo, left), stating, “Jim is out to get the solar project and give us peanuts.”

Some voiced anger over comments made by Supervisor Joel Anderson previously, who reportedly told residents to take what they could get, because they won't get more, with regard to proposed community benefits.

Chairman Earl Goodnight (photo, right) voiced concerns over decommissioning panels once their 20-25 year lifespan is done; Whalen claimed panels only drop to 80% efficiency after 15 years but then plateau and don’t drop lower.  An audience member noted that the area’s high winds might damage panels.

UPDATES ON OTHER ENERGY PROJECTS

Rugged Solar to break ground with modifications

Supervisors approved this 4 MW solar project in 2022 and construction is expected to start within a year.  The developer has agreed to remove concertina wire from fencing and reduce interior pole heights to 40 feet, plus add $25,000 more tocommunity benefit donations.

SDG&E’s Boulevard microgrid nears completion

The Boulevard substation microgrid is on schedule for completion in August, according to SDG&E.   It will have the ability to power the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Fire Station 47, Campo Reservation Fire Station, Cal Fire White Star Station, Campo Tribal Office, Campo Kumeyaay Nation Medical Center, Southern Indian Health Council Campo Clinic, the Boulevard Border Patrol Station, and the Boulevard Post Office. See CPUC resolution approving the microgrid.

This is one of four microgrids that SDG&E is building in our region.

These clean energy projects will help our region become more resilient to the impacts of our worsening climate,” said SDG&E Vice President of Energy Innovation Miguel Romero,  Business Wire reported last year. “They will dispatch clean energy to the grid when needed and keep critical facilities like schools, Cool Zones, and fire stations powered during emergencies.”

Legal challenge updates

• Jacumba Valley Ranch Energy Park (JVR Solar):  An appeal has been filed after a CEQA lawsuit was dismissed that challenged Supervisors’ approval of this 90 MW solar facility and battery energy storage system on 613 acres.
• Terra Gen’s Boulder Brush (Substation Gen-Tie):  Back in October, a judge granted intervenor status to the Campo Band of Digueño Mission Indians. The tribe filed a motion to dismiss a legal challenge to the County’s approval of the project, due teo their sovereign immunity.  A nonprofit organization has submitted an appeal on June 20,2023.
• Terra-Gen’s Campo Wind Project:   The 252 MW,60-turbine project approved by the Dept. of the Interior in 2020 for the Campo reservation. A  federal lawsuit was dismissed based on tribal sovereignty. However, an appeal of FAA approval based on aviation impacts remains in process at the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Despite this, the Chair reported that the Campo tribe has begun moving dirt to begin construction on land adjacent to property formerly owned by Donna Tisdale,the Boulevard Planning Group’s long-serving chair who recently moved out of state after efforts to halt the project failed.

Two big energy projects withdrawn

• Torrey Wind has withdrawn its proposal for 30 new wind turbines, after problems with its plan to use a tremendous amount of groundwater from Jacumba, the Chair announced.
• Boulevard Energy Storage planned for Boulevard was withdrawn July 27..

Projects stalled or delayed

• Boulevard Solar:  A permit was to expire in July of last year for the 60 MW, 420 acre project on Tierra Del Sol Road. However, the absentee owner is still promoting it, according to the agenda item, and a new major use permit time extension is reportedly being processed.
• Sempra Energy’s Cimmaron Wind:  There was no new report on the 300 MW and500MW VoltaMexicali battery storage project in Mexico,just south of Boulevard.
• Tule Wind Phase II: Although this project is permitted to build 24 new turbines on State land and the Ewiiaapaayaap reservation to generate 69 MW, no progress has been made since approximately 2016.    

Microgrid hookup and generator proposed for critical businesses

Board announced it has sent a letter of support to  Dallin Young at SDGE and copied to Supervisor Joel Anderson requesting Mountain Top Market get a power connection to the new SDG&E microgrid. The requirements for necessary facilities have been revised to include gas stations and markets.  The Board also sent a support letter requesting a generator for Live Oak Springs Market.  Board member Nancy Good noted that residents need access to stores and gas station during power outages for items such as propane,gas and groceries.

OTHER BUSINESS

Two vacancies filled

The board voted to appoint two new members to fill vacancies ((photos, left):

• Melanie Zardenata-Hayden,  a 15-year resident who lives in Jewel Valley and is a contracted worker with the U.S. Dept. of Forestry, says she wants to get involved in the community. She was approved with four votes in favor and one abstention.
• Anthony Ralph moved here 10 years ago and says his father has owned land here for 20-30 years.  He’s concerned about energy projects  and land “coveted by SDG&E”; he’s concerned over impacts on the water table, ecological and environmental impacts and says he wants to bring youthful energy to the board. He drew applause from the crowd and a unanimous 5-0 vote.

Cannabis ordinance

A discussion was held on what the County’s “Socially equitable cannabis program” could mean for Boulevard.

The County’s Planning and Development Services have completed phase 3 of outreach. Next will be an Environmental Impact Report, followed by public review and comments. Learn more at www.SanDiegoCounty.gov/content/sdc/pds/cananbis.html.

Chairman Goodnight explained that meetings have been held on Zoom and were geared to urban areas; some rural residents lack Zoom access.  He urged community members to be proactive.

Good noted, “Campo is dealing with people wanting to put in farms and winery-type cannabis facilities.” 

Concerns were raised over the socially equitable aspect allowing people with past drug convictions to operate cannabis businesses. One board member  noted that some jurisdictions limit how many cannabis businesses can be located in an area.  Another suggestion was to limit sales to edibles, not smoking due to lung damage.

“How does Border Patrol feel?” one audience member asked. “There’s a checkpoint…You don’t even have to smoke it to have a dog alert” if you have marijuana (cannabis) in a vehicle,  the resident noted.

SANDAG updates

SANDAG executive director Hasan Ikhrata has announced his resignation effective Dec. 29. A replacement has not yet been announced. Some voiced optimism that Ikhrata leaving could mean an end to efforts to impose a mileage tax widely opposed by rural residents, but which Ikhrata had touted.

The Association of San Diego Planning Groups has submitted a draft interim group bylaws to County Council and calls for the unincorporated area to have representation on SANDAG, though this would be limited to a nonvoting member. Supervisor Joel Anderson has asked that this representative be a member of a community planning group in the unincorporated area.

County Action Plan (CAP)

The County wants the public’s opinion in a survey on the County Action Plan,or CAP. You can take the 5-minute survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPLX2DY .