A judge this week ruled against the environmental groups that
sued an energy company and tried to halt its 399-megawatt solar
project in the Panoche Valley.
A judge this week ruled against the environmental groups that sued an energy company and tried to halt its 399-megawatt solar project in the Panoche Valley.
Visiting San Benito County Judge Robert O’Farrell sided with the county and PV2 Energy in ruling against the opposing groups – Save Panoche Valley, the Santa Clara Audubon Society and the Sierra Club – over the project approved last year by the county board. Two of the organizations initially filed the suit in November, and the Sierra Club later joined the effort.
The petitioners in the suit argued the county was “abusing its discretion” in November when it approved the solar project, then managed by Solargen Energy before PV2 acquired the company in April. The three groups argued the board’s approval violated the California Endangered Species Act, Fish and Game regulations, the Williamson Act and county planning laws. The suit described the final environmental impact report as inadequate and requested a new one.
O’Farrell in his ruling filed Wednesday, though, determined the EIR was sufficient.
“The Court determines that the EIR is sufficiently thorough so as to inform on the issues relevant to the project, that the Board proceeded in the manner required by law and that its findings are supported by substantial evidence. Consequently, there was no abuse of discretion in its decision to approve the project.”
Look back for more on this story.
