Turlock Irrigation District Project Nexus

Turlock Irrigation District Project Nexus

The Turlock Irrigation District (TID), in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Solar AquaGrid LLC, and the University of California (referred to in this document as partners), proposes to implement Project Nexus (Project Nexus, or Project), which includes installation of solar panels that would cover and span various sections of TID’s existing irrigation canal system. Project Nexus would serve as a proof of concept to pilot, research, and study solar over canal designs and deployment on behalf of the State of California using TID land and electric grid access. It is expected that the Project would provide various co-benefits, including reduced water evaporation resulting from midday shade and wind reduction, water quality improvements through reduced vegetative growth, reduced canal maintenance through reduced vegetative growth, and renewable power generation, among other benefits. The Project also includes installation of energy storage facilities. The proposed Project sites (referred to as Site 1 and Site 2) are along existing canals in Stanislaus County that are owned by TID. Project Site 1 is between Ceres and Turlock, approximately 2 miles west of State Route 99, and Project Site 2 is approximately 19 miles east-southeast of Modesto, about 1.6 miles south of State Route 132 (also known as Yosemite Boulevard). Project Site 1 is a segment of the Ceres Main Canal/Upper Lateral 3 from Faith Home Road westward approximately 4,000 feet and the Ceres Main Canal/Lower Lateral 3 that would surround the recently approved future Ceres Main Reservoir Project on its north, east, and south sides with an extension from the reservoir to the north toward Keyes Road for approximately 5,000 feet. The subject segments of these canals have narrow spans that are approximately 20 to 25 feet wide, with dirt access roads that parallel immediately adjacent to each side of the canal and are between 12 to 15 feet wide. A high-voltage double circuit power line with coupled conductors parallels the access road on the south side of Ceres Main Canal for approximately 0.5 miles of the segment. The land adjacent to Site 1 is zoned agricultural. Project Site 2 would include approximately 500 linear feet of solar panels within an alignment of the Main Canal with the western terminus of the segment approximately 1,000 feet northeast of the Lake Road and Hawkins Road intersection. This segment of Main Canal is an approximately 110-foot-wide span with 25- to 35-foot-wide dirt access roads that parallel immediately adjacent to each side of canal. The land adjacent to Site 2 is zoned agricultural.

Ceres, Modesto

Stanislaus

Citywide, Countywide

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bay Delta Region 3 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, North Central Region 2 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 10 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB)

California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Sacramento Region 5 (RWQCB)

Power:Solar (Megawatts 5)

Site Plan

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Economics/Jobs, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian