​CEQA reports

The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires state and local agencies to identify the significant environmental impacts of their actions and to avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible. When SMUD is designated as a "lead agency," meaning it is in charge of those projects, we are required to file CEQA reports and obtain public comments on the projects when available.

Below is information on current or planned SMUD projects requiring CEQA reports.  

2025

We're proposing the Curry Creek Solar Project, which would include installation, operation, and maintenance of a photovoltaic (PV) solar power and battery storage renewable energy generation facility, a generation substation and interconnection lines in southwestern Placer County. The solar panels and associated infrastructure would be located on approximately 696 acres of land within the project site and would interconnect to the electric grid at the nearby Country Acres switching station. The Curry Creek Solar Project adds to our diverse clean energy portfolio, improves local air quality and delivers a reliable long-term supply of solar and battery storage improving the resilience of our electric grid. 

We've prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to inform agencies and interested parties that an EIR will be prepared for the Project. The NOP provides sufficient information about the Project and its potential environmental impacts to allow agencies and interested parties the opportunity to provide a meaningful response related to the scope and content of the EIR, including mitigation measures that should be incorporated and alternatives that should be considered.

 

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) is considering approval of a Remedial Action Plan (RAP) for the remediation of contaminants of concern (COCs) in soil at the SMUD Thornton Avenue former electrical substation (Site). The remedial action would consist of excavating soil on the Site and eastern adjacent property containing arsenic and lead. The cleanup would also reduce the potential for leaching to groundwater. The excavated areas would be backfilled with clean soil. All excavated soil would be removed from the Site and transported to an appropriate, permitted off-Site facility for disposal. Asphalt pavements and concrete curbing on the eastern adjacent property would be restored after backfilling the excavation with clean soil.

This remedial action was selected because it is the most effective and acceptable alternative for achieving the Site Remedial Action Objectives (RAOs), which consist of preventing direct human contact with and ingestion of soil and gravel with COCs exceeding concentrations acceptable for commercial/industrial exposure, preventing human inhalation of soil and gravel with COCs exceeding concentrations acceptable for commercial/industrial exposure, and preventing the migration of contaminants from soil and gravel with COCs that would impact groundwater.

The remedial action is anticipated to require between 12 and 16 weeks to complete.

To learn more, visit DTSC’s Thornton Avenue project site.

We’re proposing to construct the Solano 5 Wind Repower Project, which would repower our existing Solano Wind Project Phase 2. This would consist of removing 29 Vestas V90 Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) at the Solano 2 Wind site and constructing 21 new WTGs in the same general area as the previously used locations. The project would generate up to 94.5 MW of carbon-free electricity. 

We've prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to inform agencies and interested parties that an EIR will be prepared for the Project. The NOP provides sufficient information about the project and its potential environmental impacts to allow agencies and interested parties the opportunity to provide a meaningful response related to the scope and content of the EIR, including mitigation measures that should be incorporated and alternatives that should be considered.

2024

SMUD is proposing the Oveja Ranch Solar Project which would include installation, operation and maintenance of a photovoltaic (PV) solar power and battery storage renewable energy generation facility and interconnection lines in southeastern unincorporated Sacramento County. The project site is approximately 520 acres. The solar panels and associated infrastructure would be located on approximately 400 acres of leased land within the project site and the proposed overhead distribution electrical line route would be located outside of the 400 acres.

SMUD has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to disclose environmental impacts, identify mitigation measures for reducing or avoiding impacts and providing project alternatives which reduce or avoid environmental impacts.

We’re committed to providing you safe and reliable electric service. As part of our commitment, we’re proposing to construct a new 100,000-square-foot administrative operations building to support our delivery of reliable service.

To help maintain reliability, SMUD is proposing to upgrade approximately 5.5 miles of an existing above-ground 12-kilovolt (kV) cable with 69 kV and 12 kV cables to support customer growing demand for electricity from growth and development in Rio Linda and the surrounding areas.   

The project involves replacing or relocating about 140 power poles and installing an additional 10 poles within a small area.

2023

SMUD is proposing to develop a new substation in Sacramento on a 10.3-acre site at 1220 North B Street in a developed area of downtown Sacramento. The project would consist of demolition of existing on-site structures and construction on new infrastructure to support up to five 40 MVA (megavolt amperes) 115/21kV transformers for a total of up to 200 MVA.

Substations are critical links in the electrical distribution system. Electricity travels through SMUD’s transmission system to substations where it can be converted to a lower voltage before safely being delivered to homes and businesses. The Station J Substation would directly serve the midtown and downtown areas, improving energy reliability and capacity.

SMUD is proposing the construction and operation of a new substation and decommissioning and removal of outdated equipment at the existing Elverta Substation. The proposed El Rio Substation would include new transformers and circuit breakers, a control building, paved access, fencing, lighting, stormwater drainage, stormwater retention basin, and utilities. North of the substation, two existing electrical towers carrying 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines would be replaced with two or three steel monopoles (also known as steel tubular poles) to tie the substation into the existing grid. Following the energization of the proposed El Rio Substation, the existing Elverta Substation would be decommissioned, and the outdated substation equipment dismantled and removed from the site. Project construction is anticipated to begin during the first quarter of 2025 and would be completed by late 2026, involving active construction for approximately 24 months, and 3 months to decommission the Elverta Substation.

SMUD is the lead agency responsible for complying with the provisions of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A draft initial study/mitigated negative declaration has been prepared by SMUD to evaluate potential environmental effects resulting from the El Rio Substation Construction Project (project). The document has been prepared in accordance with the CEQA (Public Resources Code [PRC] Section 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (CCR Section 15000 et seq.).

Public meetings

The Final IS/MND will be formally presented at a SMUD Environmental Resources and Customer Service Committee (ERCS) meeting on November 14, 2023, at 6 PM for information and discussion. The SMUD Board of Directors will then consider adopting the Final IS/MND at the next Board meeting on November 16, 2023, at 6 PM. The public may comment at both meetings.

The meetings will be held at the SMUD Headquarters Auditorium, 6201 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95817 if conditions permit, otherwise the meetings will be held online. The Board will take no action at the ERCS meeting. View Board meetings for more information.

2022

SMUD replaces aging electrical infrastructure as part of our maintenance and upgrade protocols. Accordingly, SMUD proposes to install approximately 0.6 miles of 12 kilovolt (kV) underground cable, approximately 2.12 miles of 69kV underground cable and up to 13 new utility vaults in the City of Rancho Cordova. The site is near the location of existing 12kV and 69kV underground cables that are approaching the end of their operational lives. Installation of the new cable, conduit and utility vaults would be done via open trenching.

SMUD plans to prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) for the project to satisfy the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.) and will serve as the lead agency for CEQA compliance. 

The Draft EIR will provide information about the project and its potential environmental impacts so that agencies and interested parties can provide meaningful responses related to its scope and content, including mitigation measures and alternatives that should be considered.

SMUD proposes to install a full-scale soil vapor extraction (SVE) system to remediate volatile organic compound (VOC)-impacted soil gas as well as excavate and dispose soil contaminated with arsenic. In order to access the contamination, multiple buildings would require demolition. The “59th Street Demolition and Remediation Project” or “project” would include building demolition, installation and operation of the SVE system, and excavation and disposal of contaminated soil. All remediation activities would be reviewed and, prior to implementation, must be approved by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to ensure protection of human health and the environment. SMUD proposes to remediate the site to appropriate risk and exposure levels as determined by DTSC.

The Draft IS/MND analyzes the potential environmental effects associated with the proposed Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In accordance with Section 15072 of the CEQA Guidelines, SMUD has prepared this Notice of Intent (NOI) to provide responsible agencies and other interested parties with notice of the availability of the Draft IS/MND and to solicit comments and concerns regarding environmental issues associated with the proposed Project. For more information, visit the 59th Street Demolition and Remediation Project webpage.

2021

SMUD is proposing the Country Acres Solar Project which would include installation, operation and maintenance of a photovoltaic (PV) solar power and battery storage renewable energy generation facility in southwestern Placer County. The project would be located on up to approximately 1,170 acres of land in southwestern Placer County just west of the City of Roseville, north of Baseline Road and east of South Brewer Road.

SMUD plans to prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) for the project to satisfy the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code [PRC] Section 21000 et seq.) and will serve as the lead agency for CEQA compliance. Throughout the CEQA process, SMUD will work closely with Placer County because the County will play a substantial role in the project as the issuer of project entitlements.