The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted last month to support utility scale solar energy production in the Carrizo Plain as long as the environmental impacts are appropriately mitigated while maintaining a project output size that is economically feasible.

On Thursday, Feb. 24, the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission voted 4-0 to approve the proposed 250-megawatt SunPower solar power plant on the Carrizo Plain.

The week before the vote, the planning commission found a solution to a major obstacle to construction of the SunPower project. The compromise was for the solar firm to reduce the number of above-ground electrical collection lines while protecting the habitat of the endangered giant kangaroo rat.

At an earlier Planning Commission meeting in January, Chamber staff and volunteers supported and advocated for the new Chamber policy that recognizes the importance of utility scale solar energy production, which is consistent with the Chamber’s Economic Vision and the county’s general plan.

If completed, several proposed Carrizo Plain solar projects will most likely have a profound economic impact on the San Luis Obispo area by collectively creating about 750 jobs, powering approximately 260,000 average-sized California homes, displacing more than 290,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emission annually, and designating San Luis Obispo County as the heart of solar energy production for the state of California. 

The new Chamber policy was recommended to the board by the Chamber’s Economic Development and Sustainability and Resources committees after volunteers and staff studied the proposed Carrizo Plains solar projects and their potential economic and environmental impacts earlier this month.

Projects proponents from SunPower and First Solar attended a joint committee meeting this month to explain their proposed projects, making it clear that the SunPower California Valley Solar Ranch and First Solar Topaz Farm (a 550-megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant) have their sights set on the Carrizo Plain.

In addition, Pat Veesart, who lives on the Carrizo Plain and is a former San Luis Obispo County planning commissioner, articulated his concerns about the projects to the more than 30 Chamber volunteers who were in attendance.

“The Chamber Board of Directors had expressed interest in learning more about these projects and the potential impact they would have economically, environmentally and socially,” said Dave Garth, Chamber president and CEO. “So, we decided to take the issue to our committees, where these projects were studied in depth.”

The Chamber has been a long-time supporter of sustainable energy practices in business and has been proactive in protecting and enhancing San Luis Obispo’s quality of life. For these reasons, the Chamber studied these projects to understand the impact they will have on the region.

For additional information on the SunPower California Valley Ranch, click here. To review the project’s Environmental Impact Reports and/or other materials, click here.

For additional information on the First Solar Topaz Farm, click here. To review the project’s Environmental Impact Reports and/or other materials, click here.