Client NRG Solar, LLC recently secured permit approval from the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission for the NRG Alpine Solar Project, a 92MW solar photovoltaic project located in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles County, California. Initial approval of the conditional use permit by a Hearing Officer on December 21, 2010 had been challenged by a conservancy group and a local "town council". Following a hearing on March 30, 2011, the Planning Commission denied the request for an appeal and approved the project.
Following ground-breaking, the project is expected to be completed within 18 months. Local utility Pacific Gas & Electric ("PG&E") will purchase output from the plant under a 20-year power purchase agreement. According to NRG, the zero-carbon generation will avoid emission of 87,000 tons of carbon into the atmosphere, the equivalent of taking 15,000 cars of the road. Construction of the project is expected to create more than 240 local construction jobs.
Stoel Rives advised NRG Solar throughout the permitting process, including negotiation with local community groups and Planning Commission personnel, as well as the March 30, 2011 appeal. John McKinsey led the Stoel Rives permitting team, with assistance from Brian Nese, Kristen Castaños and Allison Smith.