1. APA CONFERENCE • OCTOBER 22, 2012
CEQA Mitigation
Measures for
Renewable Energy
Projects
From Paper to Implementation

2. Overview
• What makes renewable energy projects different?
• Key approaches
• Mitigation measure development
• Tools for success
• Discussion

3. What Makes Renewable Projects Different?
• Technology – new and evolving
• Agency Processes – programs and
policies may lag
• Scale – variability of site characteristics
on mega-projects, site location
• Greenfields – more often than
brownfields
• Transmission – new and upgraded
• Timeline – political pressure to fast-
track

4. Three Key Things We CAN Do as Planners:
1) Engage construction engineers
and vet constraints (planning
consultants)
2) Develop plans and guiding
documents early, with resource
agency consultation and buy-in
3) Expect, plan for, and embrace Photo source: SunPower, 2012
adaptive management
CEQA mitigation must be magical: specific but flexible

5. Engaging Construction Engineers
• Permitting phase –
• Conceptual design subject to
refinement
• Construction schedule,
sequencing
• Constructability review
• Construction phase –
• Adapt construction processes
based on changing conditions

6. Build flexibility into plans and planning
documents
• Acknowledge potential for change
• Seek early buy-in from lead agency
• Develop flexible mitigation measures
• Establish system for processing minor
changes with agencies early on

7. Adaptive Management

9. Mitigation Measure Development
• Feasible
• Achieves intent
• Contingencies
• Iterative mitigation design based on
field experience

10. Tools and Solutions
• Constructability workshop
• Relationship building
• Proactive agency
engagement
• Establish process up front
 Agencies embrace adaptive management
 Procedure for project changes (major,
minor)
• Communication/public outreach
Photo source: KCOY, December 2011 (innovative, continuous, proactive)

11. Planning for
changes fosters a
robust CEQA Photo source: SunPower, 2012
document and
avoids vulnerability
Shiloh III Project – wind turbine foundation
construction, Solano County

12. Open Discussion
• Other ideas?
• Unique renewables
scenarios/considerations?
• Examples of effective mitigation
measures?
Photo source: Reuters 2010

13. Thank you!
• Karen Ladd – E&E
• Jennifer Siu – E&E
• Christy Herron – E&E
• Trevor Thor – SunPower
(415) 398-5326