Transcript Slide 1
Lessons Learned on Permitting
on BLM Land
The Calico Solar Project
November 15, 2010
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History of Calico Solar
Won an RFP with SCE in 2004 and executed a PPA in 2005
Began work on finding the ideal location in 2004/2005
Farm land not considered due to size necessary for efficiency, cost & possible backlash
Worked with the Barstow field office of the BLM to find the ideal location
Site was adjusted a few times in the early years to avoid the ACEC for example
Site was chosen based on:
Previously disturbed….. 8 pipelines running through the site, BNSF railroad runs
through the site, previously used as grazing land, old mine on site, an old well on
site and various open routes cutting through the site
In a utility corridor
Nearness to transmission….. SCE’s Pisgah substation
No one else yet in queue
A lot of work put into the selection process both by BLM and Tessera Solar
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Calico Solar – Original 8,230 Acre Site (Do we have a better map? Note the old
access road, etc.)l
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Technology to be Deployed
Stirling Energy Systems SunCatcher
A solar thermal technology
Highlights include:
Made in America
Minimal grading
Ability to build on up to a 10% slope
Modularity allows for building around land features
Once built, vegetation between rows can grow back and under SunCatchers can
grow back to a low level
Low water usage
Let’s put in a picture of the SunCatcher here, and if I’ve missed any of our pluses,
please add them in above.
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Implications of Using Solar Thermal Technology in California
Thermal energy is permitted in California by the California Energy Commission (CEC).
Thus, Calico needed to undergo a dual permitting process…..BLM & CEC.
Negotiated and executed a joint permitting MOU between the BLM & CEC to facilitate
the process.
Began Application for Certification (AFC) process at CEC jointly while developing POD
with BLM.
As result, had various agencies involved:
CEC
BLM
USFWS
CDFG
Some regional boards
County of San Bernardino
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Key Elements
Siting
Surveys and Studies
Special Status Species
Hydrology
Filing with Agencies
BLM: SF-299 and Plan of Development
CEC: Application for Certification
Required submittals
Resource Areas
Workshops
Lease
Mitigation
Heavy duty costs involved amounting to double digit millions
Negotiation with the REAT and the individual agencies throughout the process
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Calico Solar Project Site Today……. What Happened????
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Calico Solar – Revised Site
Site
Size – up to 663.5 MW
Land – 4,613 acres (originally 8,230) acres
BLM lease
Location – San Bernardino County, CA; 35
miles east of Barstow
DNI – 7.5 annual – 56,542 kWh/yr/SunCatcher
Transmission
Interconnection to SCE Pisgah Substation
Phase I – 275 MW
Phase II – 388.5 MW
Permitting
Permitting completed; BLM grant and CEC certification
EPC
Phase 1a – Mobilization for construction Q4 2010
Phase 1b – Mobilization for construction Q2 2011
Phase 2 – Mobilization for construction Q4 2013(Occurs with expansion of Pisgah Substation),
PPA
Signed PPA with Southern California Edison for full 850 MW
Advantageous site
High insolation (7.5 kWh/m2/day),
Relatively flat and large contiguous area
Low wind speed
Proximity to transmission infrastructure. Adjacent to the SCE Pisgah Substation.
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What Happened in Summary
Determined that we could build on a smaller site…. A good thing
CEC process very different from BLM process; dual permitting proved to be a challenge
Much negotiation took place with the agencies and between the agencies on the site as
well as the mitigation
Found many more desert tortoise than anticipated
Wildlife corridors took on a new dimension
Site was not recognized as being previously disturbed….pristine desert habitat
One of several projects sited for the desert, so lots of attention
New push for solar development on farm land rather than pristine desert
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Calico Solar – Desert Tortoise
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Key Lessons Learned (1)
• BLM land is just as expensive as agricultural land
• Agricultural land is more attractive to environmentalists today, but could
swing the other way tomorrow
• Desk top surveys are simply not enough to guide in siting
• In a perfect world, all lands would be surveyed now to determine what
should be avoided and what not
• Water, water, water
• Avoid the railroad
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Key Lessons Learned (2)
• Meet with everyone that could possibly impact your project and engage
them as part of the process as much as possible upfront
• Request more land than you need…… count on a negotiation
• Plan on more time than you expect
• Build in as much flexibility as possible without others knowing
• Count on 3:1 mitigation as a given; anything less is gravy
• Compliance is an enormous task; start early
• People, people, people…..relationships will help you
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Summary
Calico Solar permitting process has been extremely dynamic
One of the most complicated negotiations ever
Challenging on many fronts
A success
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