Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Alternatives for Solar Thermal Electric Project in California—Ecosphere developed and implemented an innovative approach for cumulative impacts and alternatives analysis for the Application for Certification (AFC) for a 750 MW solar thermal electric development. As a thermal energy project larger than 50MW, the California Energy Commission (CEC) was the lead agency for the environmental impact analysis. Additionally this project was to be located on BLM managed land. Ecosphere designed an approach that would meet the cumulative impact analysis requirements of both CEC Preliminary Staff Assessment and BLM Draft Environmental Impact Assessment.
Tessera Solar San Luis Valley Solar Project—Ecosphere led the environmental permitting activities associated with the San Luis Valley Solar (SLVS) Project, a 200 MW solar plant located in Saguache County, Colorado, on approximately 4500 acres of land. The project developer and Ecosphere worked together with the Saguache County Planning Department to submit a county application following the Colorado State 1041 process that includes environmental resource impact disclosures as required in the land use code (cultural resources, biological, geotechnical, land use, visual, etc.).
Ecosphere conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, and biomass to determine the cradle to grave costs and risks associated with implementation of these technologies. Ecosphere estimated the carbon footprint of a variety of renewable energy technologies with full consideration for greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing, project installation, operations, maintenance and decommissioning. Ecosphere also evaluated water and resource consumption for renewable technologies and estimated other emissions and net energy payback.
