Coachella Valley Water District’s Palm Desert Campus Solar Power Project
Summary
SCH Number
2021090354
Public Agency
Coachella Valley Water District
(CVWD)
Document Title
Coachella Valley Water District’s Palm Desert Campus Solar Power Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/20/2021
Document Description
The Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) in contract agreement with Nobell Energy Solution, Inc. (Nobell), will install solar panels at CVWD's Palm Desert campus. The primary purpose of the project is to implement dual benefits to produce a renewable energy source through solar power energy generation to be used on-site, and provide shaded parking/carports for CVWD employee parking areas. Nobell will design, install, operate, and maintain a solar photovoltaic energy system on various carports/shade structures to be located within CVWD-employee parking areas and CVWD-vehicle parking areas. Nobell also plans on installing a battery energy storage system as a demand peak shaving device; thereby, lowering energy costs from Southern California Edison by generating renewable energy and shifting the time of use of energy from peak to lower rate periods through the use of battery storage. The solar power purchase agreement term is identified for 20 years from the service commencement date. The lease agreement involves an easement over a portion of the property. Construction is anticipated for the duration of up to six-months, requiring minimal excavation for the placement of structures and equipment.
Contact Information
Name
Armando Rodriguez
Agency Name
Coachella Valley Water District
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Palm Desert
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Unincorporated
Other Location Info
75-515 Hovley Lane East, Palm Desert, California 92211 (Riverside County)
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15303, 15311, 1561(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
This action is exempt from further review under CEQA pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, §15061, subdivision (b)(3) because there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment. The project will be located on an existing asphalt area of a parking lot at CVWD’s administrative facilities and minimal grading will occur on adjacent landscaped.
Additionally, the Project action is exempt from further review under CEQA Guidelines §15301 (Existing Facility) because it consists of a minor alteration of an existing public facility involving negligible or no expansion of use of the site as a parking lot (solar panels mounted on carports); and CEQA Guidelines §15303 (New Construction and Conversion of Small Structures) because it consists of the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small accessory structures (solar panels mounted on carports) and CEQA Guidelines §15311 (Accessory Structures) because it consists of
the construction of minor structures (solar panels mounted on carports) as an accessory to existing facilities (CVWD's Palm Desert campus).
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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