Tag: panoche solar

Since the news always carries such a negative tone, this column will end 2015 with a bad and positive spin on some of the biggest local stories from the past year.

Judge Harry Tobias on Thursday said he had to read over some materials yet before making a decision in the lawsuit against the Panoche Valley Solar Project, but did set a time to make the ruling.

The county and environmental groups against the Panoche Valley Solar Project are set to meet in a settlement conference next week.

Among the many hurdles for Panoche Valley Solar before moving ahead on its 247-megawatt project was a concern about mineral rights and the potential that another party could pursue resources on affected properties.

There never really was a doubt that San Benito County supervisors would support the Panoche Valley Solar Project, a 247-megawatt effort set to result in an estimated 500 construction jobs locally and even more over the long term. It’s less clear, though, how four state and federal agencies might rule on the project opposed by an array of big environmental groups and neighbors of the site.

Shani Kleinhaus believes the Panoche Valley could become a refuge for many species and she sees its big solar project—awaiting state and federal permits—as a roadblock toward that and other environmental goals.

San Benito County supervisors Tuesday once again approved of the 247-megawatt Panoche solar project, and it may have been the final local consideration on the highly debated endeavor.

The companies overseeing a massive solar project in Panoche Valley came to terms on a 20-year “power purchase agreement” with a utility in Southern California, according to an announcement from that utility, Southern California Edison.