Environmental Services, Lompoc Wind Energy Project

  • Category: , ,
  • Client: Pacific Renewable Energy Generation LLC (“Pacific”), a subsidiary of Acciona Wind Energy USA
  • Location: Santa Barbara, CA

UltraSystems is providing a variety of environmental services in support of the Lompoc Wind Energy Project south of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. The project area covers some 3,000 acres within the Santa Ynez Mountain Range. An application for a Major Conditional Use Permit was filed on Feb. 21, 2006, for the wind energy project, to be located on ridges south of Lompoc, adjacent to Vandenberg AFB. This will be the first major wind energy project in the county and could provide a significant source of alternative energy. Plans call for up to 65 wind turbines, each standing 389-397 feet high. Most of the land is under private ownership and is primarily used for cattle grazing. An UltraSystems biologist, permitting specialist, and environmental scientist began assisting Acciona Wind Energy in the fall of 2009.

UltraSystems is providing the following task:

  • Aquatic resources permitting (USACE, RWQCB, and CDFG);
  • Develop worker education and awareness program;
  • Sensitive species “take” permits;
  • Rare plant surveys and restoration plans;
  • Native grassland mapping and restoration plans;
  • El Segundo Blue Butterfly habitat assessment restoration plan;
  • Pre-construction plant and wildlife surveys;
  • Sensitive species surveys (including bats);
  • Nesting bird surveys;
  • Tree protection and replacement plan;
  • Assessment of pavement conditions;
  • Adaptive management plan;
  • Fencing plan;
  • Minimization and avoidance measures (mitigation); and
  • Project Management