Sweetwater Authority’s Floating Solar Farm Possibly Stalled by Tainted Contract Vote

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that our local water district plans to put floating solar panels on the Sweetwater Reservoir. This idea has been “on the table” since June 2022, as part of the Sweetwater Authority’s Strategic Plan Detailed Work Plan. Yet, a project was launched when the Sweetwater Authority entered into a sole source contract with Noria Energy on June 28, 2023. That is when the bell was rung for the community to pay attention.

Today, the Sweetwater Authority’s website identifies the floating solar panels project status:

As of August 2024, the project is in the technical and environmental document preparation phase. Authority staff and consultants are currently conducting the technical studies to inform a CEQA compliant initial study, which is anticipated to be completed by November 2024. At the conclusion of the initial study, a recommendation for Mitigated Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report will be presented to the Authority’s Governing Board.

Their floating solar project timeline may also be facing a more serious setback. According to reporting by La Prensa, Sweetwater Authority’s contract with Noria Energy is null and void because Director Steve Castaneda violated the law in voting for the contract. This would put the Sweetwater Authority back to square one or in other words, without a floating solar project. Castaneda’s June 28, 2023, vote tainted their whole process. The Sweetwater Authority must start their process over from scratch to avoid significant legal risk.

Project delay is good news for Save Sweetwater Reservoir, the group of concerned South County residents and Sweetwater Authority ratepayers. They have been expressing their concerns about this “bleeding edge” endeavor over our drinking water supply. They have been gathering signatures on a petition to demand that the Sweetwater Authority Governing Board conduct a Environmental Impact Report for their floating solar panels project. Momentum is building.

Point your camera at the QR Code. Tap the banner that

appears. This will take you to the petition for signing.

Sadly, the Sweetwater Authority has been disingenuous with their floating solar plans. The ultimate size of floating solar panels on Sweetwater Reservoir is presented as 3.75 MW (<10 acres.) Yet, the Sweetwater Authority is also promoting an 80 MW (approximately 200 acres) floating solar scenario with community solar partners to State legislators. During dry years when the reservoir water level is low, that 80 MW floating solar array would cover most of the water surface. The Sweetwater Authority’s representatives have not acted in good faith with their community engagement.

A number of local organizations have opposed the Sweetwater Authority’s floating solar panels project including Sweetwater Valley Civic Association, Spring Valley Community Planning Group, and most recently, the Sweetwater Community Planning Group. The Spring Valley Community Planning Group wrote in their July 23, 2024, letter to Chair Nora Vargas, County Board of Supervisors:

We believe that a floating solar farm on Sweetwater Reservoir is inconsistent with the County’s General and Community Plans. It would negatively impact the areas surrounding the reservoir that are exclusively within the unincorporated areas of the County, including Sweetwater Summit Park. A floating solar farm would be urbanization, an incompatible land use for this rural landscape. Spring Valley and La Presa are disadvantaged communities immediately north of this reservoir. These communities were recently deemed an environmental justice area of concern. We believe that this solar farm's impact on our community is not being taken into consideration.

The City of Chula Vista appears unconcerned and has jumped on the floating solar band wagon. Their draft 2024 Climate Action Plan Update had a new item: “Evaluate Floating Solar to reduce water evaporation and produce clean energy.” The City doesn’t own any water bodies to leverage for that purpose. It remains to be seen whether or not this new item will stand up to public scrutiny. The City of Chula Vista Sustainability Committee received a letter questioning its appropriateness. This 2024 Climate Action Plan Update is expected to reach City Council for approval in early 2025.

In the meantime, San Diego Community Power and their climate advocacy groups are on board and appear to be leading the charge. By the way, National City Vice Mayor Ditas Yamane was appointed to serve on the Sweetwater Authority Board and the San Diego Community Power Board.

So… stay tuned. There is much more of this story yet to be told.

Submitted by Karen Larson Henry, P.E.

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