In a landmark first, California has leapfrogged local resistance to a large solar project. (PV Magazine)
The context: In 2016, San Bernardino County supervisors voted to block the $700M, 300-MW Soda Mountain Solar Project project (due to now-addressed concerns over impacts to bighorn sheep migration). But the developer kept things rolling by opting into state review by the California Energy Commission.
Now, the commission’s approval marks the first example of a major solar project successfully circumventing local pushback via state authority. Soda Mountain is currently headed for final federal review.
Zoom out: This move sets the foundation for utility-scale developers to work around California’s local land-use rules, which have long delayed renewable projects.