MORE SOLAR FARMS PLANNED FOR SEVERAL BACKCOUNTRY COMMUNITIES

Descanso, Pine Valley and Potrero targeted next

By Sharon Penny

Photos: Proposed Descanco siting

February 23, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--The massive solar farm planned for the community of Boulevard has been documented in the East County Magazine, but what has been largely under the radar are several smaller-scale solar farms planned throughout the backcountry, including Descanso, Pine Valley, Potrero and others.

On Thursday, February 20, the Descanso Planning Group (DPG) heard a brief presentation on a proposed solar farm on the south side of Viejas Boulevard on the Merigan property. Carlos Valdivia from Ecoplexus, the firm that is proposing to develop both Descanso and Pine Valley solar farms, gave an informational overview to the DPG and about 25 residents in attendance.

At this point, explained Valdivia, the projects are in an infancy stage with initial studies just being formed. They are in what the county terms a “major pre-approval/unknown” stage.

Valdivia noted that the projects planned by Ecoplexus are not nearly the scope and size of those proposed in Boulevard.

“Each panel measures approximately 6 feet, six inches x 4 feet,” he said. The panels in the Boulevard project measure 30 feet  by 60 feet.  

“We are looking at two 1.5 megawatt (MW) facilities, which would cover approximately 1,000 homes. It encompasses about 15 acres. We will use existing SDG&E distribution lines,” he said. (The Boulevard project is expected to cover 1,500 acres and generate 141 MW).

Descanso resident Sandra Wilson asked if a survey of residents’ opinions on the project has been done. Valdivia said no.

As in Boulevard, the residents in attendance and the DPG members asked questions about impacts to the environment, fire safety, wildlife, water tables and the potential for light pollution. Descanso is a community without light pollution and affords one of the most scenic night sky views west of the desert for astronomy buffs and nature lovers.

In terms of water usage, Valdivia assured residents that water would be trucked in and local water sources would not be utilized for construction. Wilson expressed concerns for the maintenance phase, which would tap local water sources to wash the solar panels.

The rest of the questions are unanswered at this time due to the preliminary nature of the project.

Ecoplexus will return to the DPG Planning Group meeting on April 17 to present more findings and landscaping renditions so residents can have a visual of what is being proposed.