Renewable America has announced a major milestone for its Ranch Sereno Clean Power (RASE) project. After a two-year permitting process, Contra Costa County granted RASE a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) on September 24, 2024, paving the way for the development of a new solar and storage project in Byron, California. The project will be built on 7.5 hectares and will contain 2.48 MWdirect current of solar capacity coupled with 3.6 MWh of energy storage.
“Renewable America partners with local communities to build meaningful, long-term relationships that fuel economic growth across California while expanding access to affordable clean energy,” said Ardeshir Arian, president and CEO of Renewable America. “This approval is a critical step towards expanding solar energy and achieving greater energy independence in the Byron area.”
The RASE project site is located within Contra Costa County’s designated Solar Energy Generation (SG) Overlay Zone, an area identified by the county in the Renewable Resources Potential Study. This study applied a series of filters – including slope, land cover, soil quality, zoning designation, proximity to transmission lines and other key factors – to identify optimal locations for solar energy development, excluding sensitive agricultural and habitat resources. The SG Overlay is a key part of the province’s strategy to balance renewable energy development with long-term land use and environmental considerations, making it an ideal location for the RASE project.
Renewable America will serve as developer for the RASE project, while EPC’s division, RNA Services, will manage construction. As part of the company’s commitment to local economic development, a five-trade Project Labor Agreement (PLA) will be implemented with the local union, ensuring the use of local labor throughout the construction process.
MCE will be the customer under the Feed-in Tariff Plus and will purchase the electricity generated by the project. Renewable America has previously worked with MCE and successfully completed the Fallon Two Rock Road solar farm in Marin County earlier this year.
There have been multiple hearings along the project’s path to approval, with the first conditional use permit granted by the Zoning Administrator in March 2024, followed by Planning Commission approval in April 2024. Neighborhood appeals were filed in both cases, but prior decisions were maintained. and final approval was granted by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on September 24.
“We are grateful to the province for its support and for establishing the SG overlay to fuel clean energy growth,” Arian said. “RNA is committed to maintaining full transparency throughout the development process and ensuring that all stakeholders – including residents and the local environment – benefit from the project.”
News item from Renewable America
