MMU 23-02 Red Hills BioEnergy Project

MMU 23-02 Red Hills BioEnergy Project

The applicant, Scotts Valley Energy Corporation, is proposing changes to the previously approved Mitigated Negative Declaration as supported by Initial Study (IS 19-09) (Attachment 4) for Use Permit (UP 19-05) which allows for the construction and operation of a small-scale bioenergy production facility using woody biomass to produce syngas, a fuel/gas mixture used in creating synthetic natural gas or for producing ammonia or methanol, and biochar, a by-product of the bioenergy process that functions as an agricultural or forestry soil amendment. In the revised project, the location of the operational facility or building would be relocated approximately 40 feet further east of Red Hills Road or at a distance of approximately 180 feet. This relocation is proposed in order to reduce sound transmission to the residential neighbor to the west, and still operate within the county established noise standards for the commercial neighbor to the east. The revised project area would encompass no more than 15,000 sf, or approximately 28,350 sf less than the original permitted footprint of 43,350 sf. This reduction occurs with the elimination of the wood processing and storage area plus the elimination of the section of the lane and turn around located on the east side of this processing/storage area. The wood-slatted chain link fence of the approved project will now only surround the 40’ x 50’ building, maintaining a constant 21’ distance, as it will no longer encompass the outdoor biomass storage and processing area. Open space would also be maintained around the building, as the revised footprint would entail a 40’ open space on the north and west sides, 20’ space on the south side that is set 20’ back from the interior road, and approximately 60’ on the east side.

Unincorporated Kelseyville

Lake

Unincorporated

Lake