Use Permit - North Coast Highway Solar
2 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024071264
Lead Agency
Humboldt County
Document Title
Use Permit - North Coast Highway Solar
Document Type
MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration
Received
Present Land Use
Zoning: Agriculture Exclusive (20 and 60-acre min. parcel sizes); Gen Plan Desig's: Ag Exclusive, Res. Ag, Res. Estates, Airport LU Compatibility
Document Description
A Conditional Use Permit is being requested to authorize construction and operation of a 2.8-megawatt solar photovoltaic power generation facility (solar facility) to produce renewable energy for the power grid. The automated facility would occupy an approximately 11-acre fenced area with arrays of solar panels, single-axis trackers, string inverters, transformers, and associated electrical equipment. The approximately 87-acre property is planned and zoned Agriculture Exclusive (AE) and managed as pasture. An existing private driveway provides access to the project site from State Highway 36. Approximately 300 feet of new road is proposed to be developed to connect with a new driveway encroachment along Highway 36 located 70 feet west of the existing driveway encroachment. A power line and poles will be run to the site along the driveway route, to allow interconnection to the nearby 12 kilovolt power distribution line located within the highway right-of-way near the driveway encroachment. Approximately 7 acres of the site will be occupied by the solar array. New impervious surfaces totaling approximately 1,500 square feet will be limited to the piles supporting the panel arrays and concrete pads below electrical equipment (approx. 1,060 ft.) Areas beneath the panel will remain vegetated and the project sponsor will maintain continual operation of agricultural uses on the property, including but not limited to sheep grazing, the keeping of honeybees, or planting of row crops, on a rotational basis. Site construction is expected to take approximately 4 months and operation will run for a minimum of 20 years under a power purchase agreement with Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA). Maintenance staff are expected to visit the site on a weekly basis following the start of operation.
Contact Information
Name
Steven Lazar
Agency Name
Humboldt County Planning & Building Department
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Email
Name
Norah Jaffan
Agency Name
EPD Solutions
Job Title
Consultant
Contact Types
Consulting Firm
Phone
Email
Name
David Kane
Agency Name
North Coast Highway Solar 1, LLC
Job Title
Associate Director; EDP Renewables
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Counties
Humboldt
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
State Highway 36 and River Bar Rd.
Zip
95540
Total Acres
85
Parcel #
204-171-045, 204-171-047, 204-081-002, 204-081-006, 204-081-007, 204-171-001
State Highways
Highway 101 and Highway 36
Railways
Great Redwood Trail-formerly NWP
Airports
Rohnerville
Schools
Hydesville Elementary
Waterways
Van Duzen River & Eel River
Township
02N
Range
01E
Section
19
Base
Humboldt
Other Location Info
The project site is located in an unincorporated area of Humboldt County, 1 mile south of the City of Fortuna, on land situated on the south side of State Route 36 between the communities of Alton and Hydesville, just west of the intersection of Highway 36 and River Bar Road on the property known as 2020 State Highway 36, and further described as APNs 204-171-045, 204-171-047, 204-081-002, 204-081-006, 204-081-007, 204-171-001
Notice of Completion
State Review Period Start
State Review Period End
State Reviewing Agencies
California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern and Eureka Region 1 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), California Department of Transportation, District 1 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (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), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, North Coast Region 1 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality
Development Types
Other (Utilities - Commercial Solar)
Local Actions
Use Permit
Project Issues
Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Land Use/Planning, Tribal Cultural Resources, Utilities/Service Systems, Wetland/Riparian
Attachments
Draft Environmental Document [Draft IS, NOI_NOA_Public notices, OPR Summary Form, Appx,]
Notice of Completion [NOC] Transmittal form
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.