A 20-megawatt solar farm planned for the east side of the city could be approved by the El Centro City Council tonight.
The Sol Orchard Solar Farm project would be located on four parcels near West Villa Avenue, east of North Third Street, and cover about 140 acres owned by the Imperial Irrigation District.
This solar farm is one of the first ones to come before the council in at least two years and if approved, it would deliver renewable energy to the Imperial Irrigation District.
Sol Orchard Solar Farm came before the city’s Planning Commission in January and is recommended for approval as it includes mitigation monitoring and reporting programs, according to a report to the council.
Some 125 people are expected to be part of the project during peak construction period, according to Planning Commission documentation.
Since ambient noise level is expected to temporarily increase during construction, a sound shield along the western area would be required, the same documentation shows.
Airport’s essential air service
The county’s new Essential Air Service provider will also be discussed by the City Council tonight.
This discussion is likely to center on the new route that connects Imperial with a San Diego commuter terminal.
Many in the community, as well as city officials like Councilwoman Cheryl Viegas-Walker, have questioned the federal Department of Transportation decision to choose the option that gives the county only one destination.
SeaPort Airlines had offered 17 weekly roundtrips to San Diego and 12 weekly round trips to Burbank airport.
But the DOT went with the cheaper option, which is five flights to a San Diego commuter terminal every day during the week, and five flights during the weekend in a nine-seat plane.
Walker has said that the cheaper option provides limited flying destinations to the county and could make it less accessible to investors.
Geoff Dale, SeaPort’s Southwest regional manager, is expected to be in the meeting to answer the council’s questions and concerns.
He is also likely to explain why SeaPort postponed its starting date from March 1 to May 1.
Dale has said to other agencies that based on a formula the San Diego airport uses, the monthly rent initially thought to be around $9,000 was actually about $28,000.
SeaPort, Dale said, is negotiating the details and moreover, the airline plans to add Burbank a month after service begins.
Staff Writer Alejandro Dávila can be reached at 760-337-3445 or adavila@ivpressonline.com
If you go
What El Centro City Council meeting
When 6 p.m. today
Where City Council chambers, 1275 Main St.
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