COBB — The Lake County Planning Commission is directing county staff to prepare a final Environmental Impact Report for a proposed expansion at Bottle Rock Power Plant.
At a public hearing on Wednesday, the commission reviewed a draft EIR that had been prepared by AECOM consulting firm.
Bottle Rock Power Plant is located on High Valley Road off Bottle Rock Road in Cobb. Bottle Rock Power, LLC proposes to construct two new well pads at the BRP GeoResource Leasehold. The well pads would accomodate up to 22 geothermal steam production wells.
As stated in a project description prepared by planning department staff, “The applicant anticipates that approximately six or seven geothermal wells would be drilled on each well pad initially. However, up to eight to 10 replacement wells might be necessary over the 30-year or more life of the project, should existing wells need to be shut down or abandoned.”
Brian Harms, general manager of Bottle Rock Power, LLC, said that the purpose of the expansion is to bring an additional steam supply to increase power generation to provide renewable energy for 25,000 to 35,000 additional homes.
Planning commissioner Clelia Bauer said that she and commissioner Michael van der Boom visited the site on Monday. “The work site seemed clean and orderly,” she said.
Harms drew attention to voters” rejection of Proposition 23 during Tuesday”s election, citing geothermal power”s role in creating “green” energy that reduces reliance on fossil fuels. “Every megawatt that Bottle Rock Power does not produce or is not allowed to produce, is outsourced to someone else who burns fossil fuels,” Harms said.
Concerns raised by members of the public included air contaminants, noise, water use and increased traffic on High Valley and Bottle Rock roads.
Kelly Fletcher, who said he lives near the Bottle Rock Power Plant, said, “Hydrogen sulfide levels go high at night.” He asked that a “sniffer” be installed between property owners” homes and the power plant before the county issues a permit.
A film submission detailed road conditions along Rabbit Valley Road, which residents suggested as an alternative to trucks using High Valley Road. Harms said that at the time that Bottle Rock Power, LLC submitted its application, it had not made progress negotiating with Rabbit Hill Road property owners so the use of Rabbit Hill Road was not included as option.
The draft EIR includes mitigation measures to address dust emissions, short-term and long-term exposure to toxic air contaminants.
The planning department staff report states that the draft EIR was prepared to meet requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A public review and comment period ended Monday.
CEQA requires that written responses be prepared for comments received and that comments and responses be included in the final EIR.
Richard Coel, director of the Community Development Department, said that an additional hearing will take place to address the final EIR as well as consideration of a use permit and rezone for Bottle Rock Power, LLC.
The draft EIR can be viewed online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Community_Development/Bottle_Rock_Power_Draft_EIR_9-16-10.htm. Copies of the document can also be reviewed at Cobb Mountain Elementary School and at the Chauncy Gibson Library in Middletown.
