Pastoria Solar Project by Pastoria Solar Energy, LLC

The Pastoria Solar Project, managed by Pastoria Solar Energy, LLC, involves the construction of a solar generation tie line connecting the proposed Pastoria Solar Project to the existing Pastoria Energy Facility Lebec switchyard. Located in Kern County, California, the work is concentrated within a 1.63-acre area of a larger 650-acre photovoltaic solar development. The project is subject to the California Endangered Species Act and Fish and Game Code section 5050 due to the incidental take of the fully protected and state endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizard. The project is expected to cause 0.14 acres of permanent and 1.49 acres of temporary habitat impacts, all of which occur within previously disturbed areas such as established dirt roads. To mitigate these impacts and meet the conservation standards of Fish and Game Code section 2081.15, the permittee is required to purchase 1.91 acres of Covered Species credits from a California Department of Fish and Wildlife approved mitigation or conservation bank. Minor Amendment No. 1 to Incidental Take Permit No. 2081-2025-006-04 extends the permit expiration date, extends the deadline for the purchase of mitigation credits, and clarifies the requirements for those purchases. The project also adheres to a Mitigation Reporting or Monitoring Plan adopted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, with the Kern County Planning and Natural Resources Department serving as the lead agency.