Reservoir Floating Solar Panels Kicked Down the Road
- Guest
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 13
Sweetwater Reservoir will not receive a photo-voltaic array anytime soon. Sweetwater Authority removed their proposed floating solar project from their Fiscal Year 2025-26 Strategic Plan Detailed Work Plan. Earlier versions of that work plan included milestones for an Environmental Impact Report.
Instead, the Sweetwater Authority will spend the next 12 months exploring options:
Environmental Stewardship Objective ES2: Develop strategies to achieve carbon neutrality
Task 1 - Complete draft of the Renewable Energy Plan that addresses multiple scenarios to achieve carbon neutrality identifying cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities, assessing associated regulatory and funding considerations, and providing recommendations to enhance system reliability and operational sustainability. - June 2026
The Governing Board is expected to heed the General Manager’s recommendation at the June 11, 2025, Board Meeting, Agenda Item 8. Consideration to Approve the FY 2025-26 Strategic Plan Detailed Work Plan.
Floating solar appeared in the agency’s annual work plan for the past three years. In December, Director Elizabeth Cox proposed that the agency defer seeking consultant proposals for an Environmental Impact Report while it considered alternatives but her motion failed. Director Ron Morrison (Mayor of National City) and former Director Josie Calderon-Scott were vocal opponents of the floating solar project since June 2023 when the Noria Energy sole source contract was approved.
As anticipated, the Governing Board approved their Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget and Fiscal Year 2025-26 Strategic Plan Detailed Work Plan on June 11, 2025. The operating budget included $200,000 for environmental tasks for floating solar panels (Strategic Plan ES2.1.) The General Manager said that he had not been directed by the Board to stop the project. Vocal proponents for the floating solar project were Director Hector Martinez and Vice Chair Ditas Yamane.
By Karen Henry, P.E. | June 7, 2025, Revised June 12, 2025
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