Current Development Projects

NextEra Energy Resources, CUP Application No. PLN2015-00157, Golden Hills North Wind Energy Repowering Project

NextEra Energy Resources applied in June 2015 for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to construct the second phase of its Golden Hills Wind Project, to repower (i.e. replace) its wind energy assets in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA). The first phase, completed in 2015 south of I-580 after its approval in November 2014, replaced 775 old generation wind turbines with 48 new generation turbines; the second phase, approved in November 2015 will replace 324 older turbines with 20 new turbines located north of I-580. The first phase has an energy production capacity of 85.9 megawatts (MWs); the second phase will supplement that capacity with an additional 46 MWs of capacity for a total production capacity of nearly 130 MWs under the Golden Hills Wind LLC. NextEra Energy Resources previously repowered its facilities in Contra Costa County (the Vasco Winds Project), and also replaced 169 "FloWind" vertical axis turbines in 2003 under the Buena Vista Wind Project in the APWRA, which has a capacity of approximately 36 MWs.

The proposed project is consistent with the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) Repowering Program, and the Final Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), which was certified by the East County Board of Zoning Adjustments (EBZA) on November 12, 2014 (SCH# 2010082063). The project was therefore reviewed as a tiered project with a checklist pursuant to Section 15168(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. A link to the checklist, and its Attachment 1, Project Description and Affected Environment Analysis, is provided below. Based on the checklist, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program has been adopted, the implementation of which is required as a condition of its approval.

A public hearing was held on November 12, 2015 (after being continued, as indicated in the original and amended notices below), at which time the East County Board of Zoning Adjustments approved the project. Links to the staff report, Resolution and Exhibits are provided below.

CEQA Documents

Environmental Checklist (PDF - 1.7mb)

Attachment 1 : Project Description and Affected Environment Analysis (PDF - 4.5mb)
Attachment 2: Designated Scenic Routes Map (PDF - 859kb)
Attachment 3: Airport Area of Influence Map (PDF - 444kb)
Errata (PDF - 298kb)

Staff Report and Related Materials

Original Notice of Hearing, October 22, 2015 (PDF - 43kb)
Amended Re-Notice, for November 12, 2015 (PDF - 45kb)
Staff Report to EBZA, October 22, 2015 (PDF - 140kb)
- Staff Report Addendum with Corrections, October 22, 2015 (PDF - 50kb)
Approved Resolution Z-15-33, November 12, 2015 (PDF - 294kb)
- Exhibit A: Written Findings of Significant Effects (PDF - 298kb)
- Exhibit B: Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (PDF - 1.2mb) (As Adopted Nov. 12, 2015)
- Exhibit C: Statement of Overriding Considerations (PDF - 155kb)

Staff Contacts

Sandra Rivera, Assistant Deputy Director
(510) 670-6526

Andrew Young, Project Planner
(510) 670-5400