Powin Energy’s 2-megawatt (MW)/8-MW-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) recently went online fewer than six months after the project was awarded, marking an energy industry first for the speed of battery energy storage permitting, manufacturing, installing, and commissioning of an asset of this size on a distribution feeder. Located in Irvine, California, the system provides
The process of securing regulatory permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) can seem challenging and overwhelming. However, the ACOE’s goal is to earn and maintain the public’s trust and work together with applicants to improve the process. Tips for permit success Dudek regulatory specialist Laurie Monarres offers applicants five tips to expedite
Achieving California Coastal Commission (CCC) permit approval can be complicated, time consuming, and expensive. However, communication, clarity, and careful planning can expedite the permit process. Dudek offers 5 tips to ensuring efficient coastal development permit approvals. 1. Communicate promptly with the CCC. Once the project has been defined and the basic alternative analysis and any
Manmade, moved, or maintained jurisdictional waters of the United States and/or waters of the state of California (regulated wetlands) often occur in the most unlikely places. As such, unsuspecting property owners may be lulled into a false sense of security with the notion that their improvement project is not subject to federal regulation by the
Ventura Port District (District) is undertaking a collaborative effort to implement a permitting roadmap to bring sustainably cultivated shellfish operations to Ventura Harbor. Though there is great demand for locally sourced seafood that doesn’t harm the environment, the regulatory permitting path to allow an aquaculture operation can be difficult to discern. Successful aquaculture offers opportunities
A programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) would modify enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which protects 1,027 bird species. The PEIS will authorize incidental take of migratory birds, and will also address: a range of reasonable alternatives for authorizing incidental take; the effectiveness of measures
Programmatic permitting significantly streamlines the regulatory permitting process compared to the traditional project-by-project approach often used for public agency-wide or regional operations and maintenance (O&M) and capital improvement projects (CIP). Programmatic permits are issued on a regional basis for activities that are substantially similar in nature, and incorporate specific design requirements and conservation measures up
Permitting in the California Coastal Zone can be complicated, time consuming and expensive for an applicant, particularly when seeking to implement large-scale projects that span multiple jurisdictions or require phased development. Public Works Plans (PWPs) are an innovative—but little known—approach to streamlining California Coastal Commission permitting for qualifying public projects. A PWP provides a comprehensive
Water quality permits in California for projects impacting wetlands, “blue-line” streams, and other jurisdictional water bodies are starting to require sampling for “water bugs” known as benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI). BMI live on or in the substrate under bodies of water. They respond quickly to changes in water quality and nutrient input and are regarded as
Permit processing time for Meteorological Testing (MET) facilities can be streamlined when engineering parameters and environmental permitting considerations are managed concurrently and collaboratively. When pursuing MET facility construction on private land in California, permit issuance to construct by the lead agency is subject to CEQA requirements. A categorical exemption is often used by a lead
