PV POWER PLANTS, ENVIROS AGREE

First Solar, SunPower Reach Agreement With Environmental Groups On Solar Farms
August 9, 2011 (Solar Industry)

"The Sierra Club, the Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity, Topaz Solar Farms LLC (a subsidiary of First Solar) and SunPower Corp. have reached a settlement regarding two solar photovoltaic power plant projects in development in San Luis Obispo County, Calif.

"The agreement calls for the project developers to provide additional conservation protections for wildlife in the area of the 250 MW California Valley Solar Ranch project and the 550 MW Topaz Solar Farm…[M]ore than 9,000 acres will be added to the 17,000 acres of land required to be permanently protected and preserved under the permits, resulting in a total of approximately 26,000 acres, or about 40 square miles, of the Carrizo Plain receiving protection…"

The Carrizo Plain (click to enlarge)

"Thirty miles of fencing will be removed from the area, allowing for greater wildlife movement…Additional beneficial enhancements will be made to the wildlife-friendly fencing around the solar system arrays…[N]o rodenticides will be used in the construction or operation of the projects, and the solar companies will help fund efforts to eliminate rodenticides on the Carrizo Plain…[and] Topaz and SunPower will make additional significant financial contributions…for wildlife conservation.

"California Gov. Jerry Brown, whose office had facilitated the discussions, hailed the signing of the agreement…"