Joseph Gallo Farms Net-Zero Refrigeration System Optimization Project
Summary
SCH Number
2024090769
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Joseph Gallo Farms Net-Zero Refrigeration System Optimization Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/19/2024
Document Description
The California Energy Commission will provide a $4,410,810 grant to Joseph Gallo Cheese Company LP (Recipient) to fund the project. The Recipient will replace existing refrigeration systems in addition to installing a waste heat recovery system at the Recipient's dairy processing facility located in Atwater, CA. These new systems will reduce both direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing electricity consumption, natural gas usage, peak demand load, and eliminate high-GWP refrigerant leaks. Beneficiaries include Joseph Gallo Cheese Company LP and local communities around the Recipient's dairy processing facility (with decrease of GHG emissions).
Contact Information
Name
Matthew Stevens
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Mechanical Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Atwater
Counties
Merced
Regions
Northern California
Cross Streets
10561 State Highway 140
Zip
95301
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The project falls under categorical exemption listed in 14 C.C.R. § 15301. This project will involve replacement of existing mechanical equipment at an existing food processing facility in Atwater, CA. The project will replace existing inefficient refrigeration systems in addition to installing a waste heat recovery system. This may involve modifying existing refrigeration lines and concrete work at the recipient's dairy processing facility. The installation will involve minor alteration of existing mechanical equipment with no expansion beyond the existing use of the food processing facility and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15302
Reasons for Exemption
The project falls under categorical exemption listed in 14 C.C.R. § 15302. This project involves the replacement of existing mechanical equipment at an existing food processing facility in Atwater, CA. This project will replace existing inefficient equipment at an existing food processing facility to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The new equipment will be located on the same site as the equipment replaced and have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the equipment replaced.
Each exemption is an independent basis for finding the project is exempt.
The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource.? Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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