5MW Duffel Solar Project

Panorama assisted East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) with the siting of a 5-MW solar facility within their watershed lands. Panorama conducted an evaluation of site options for environmental constraints and fatal flaws, developed a permitting plan to address federally listed species and impacts to jurisdictional waters, held multiple meetings with the local municipalities including presentations to the City of Orinda, and performed a land use compatibility analysis. After selection of the Duffel site, Panorama prepared an IS/MND to evaluate the environmental impacts of the project.

Key issues included visual impacts of the solar field and interconnecting power line on the City of Orinda, land use compatibility with City of Orinda requirements, wildfire impacts from the interconnecting power line, impacts on oak woodlands, and impacts on special-status species. Panorama prepared visual simulations to assist in the evaluation of visual impacts and provided a detailed evaluation of wildfire impacts in the IS/MND. No public comments were received on the Draft IS/MND about wildfire impacts due to the detailed analysis included in the IS/MND.