Use Permit and Williamson Act Cancellation Application No. PLN2026-0068 – Amanece Hybrid Solar

Request to establish a 2,170-acre solar energy facility creating an aggregate peak power capacity of 400 megawatts (MW) on ten contiguous parcels totaling 2,998.49± acres in the General Agriculture (A-2-40) zoning district. The project will also consist of an electric collector system with inverters, a 24-acre battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 400 MWac at four hours of continuous discharge, a 5± acre project substation, a 9± acre Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) switching station, a 300 square-foot temporary operations and maintenance (O&M) building, and access roads. An AC-DC electrical collection system will collect and convey the electricity from the proposed single-axis tracker solar panels to the proposed on-site substation. The energy generated by the project would be transported from the collector substation to PG&E’s proposed on-site 9± acre switching station yard via underground and overhead 150-foot-tall feeder lines. From the switching station, the facility will interconnect to the existing PG&E Quinto-Fink 230 kV transmission line that currently bisects the project site. Substation equipment is proposed to be up to 55 feet in height. 14-foot-tall security lighting is proposed along the perimeter of the project, and within the BESS, substation, and O&M facilities. The facility is proposed to be decommissioned after 35 years, the estimated life expectancy of the project equipment. Solar panels, up to 10 feet in height, are proposed across all of the project parcels; however, Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 026-024-006 is only proposed as a reserved site for panel development in the event that physical site constraints prevent development on other portions of the project site. The applicant proposes a seven-foot-tall chain link fence with barbed wire strands perimeter of the project site, and landscaped screening comprised of drought tolerant trees and shrubs along the eastern project boundary. The O&M building is proposed to be utilized when operations staff are on-site, with portable restrooms proposed. Water for domestic purposes and panel washing is proposed to be trucked to the site, sourced from a well, or purchased from a water purveyor. Up to 20 personnel may visit the site at any given time for when required seasonally for activities such as panel washing two times per year. A maximum of five personnel are anticipated daily during routine operations. A maximum of 420 trips are anticipated on-site throughout the year for security, maintenance, and panel washing. The project will take access to County-maintained Pete Miller Road via three existing driveways comprised of all-weather aggregate, each approximately 100 feet in width. Throughout the project site, the applicant has proposed 20± foot-wide gravel access roads around the BESS facility. Stormwater drainage will be handled via overland runoff. Three wells currently exist on the property. No on-site well or septic system is proposed as part of this project. APN 028-007-001 contains a single-family dwelling, accessory storage buildings, and water tanks, which are not part of the project. All project parcels are enrolled in Williamson Act Contracts and are proposed to be subject to a cancellation as part of this request. A detailed project description and preliminary hydrology study conducted by the applicant is attached.