By Deb Murphy

The time limit on the interconnection request for Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s solar ranch east of Manzanar expired. As a result the project lost its spot in line to hook up to LADWP’s Inyo-Rinaldi Transmission Line.

DWP's solar site sits to the east of Manzanar

DWP’s solar site sits to the east of Manzanar

Before the withdrawal on March 12, the Southern Owens Valley Solar Ranch was ninth on the Priority Queue List. The Northland Power project, located near Independence, was withdrawn from its 20th position on the list on April 1.

According to LADWP’s Hope Street Public Information Office, the request time line expired “while DWP worked with the community on interests and options on SOVSR and examined a variety of alternatives for the project (size, specific locations, etc.)”

The statement adds “LADWP will continue to examine the viability of this renewable project and many others, especially in light of the new state goals of 50 percent renewables by 2030 (the former state goal was 40 percent….)”

The Large Generator Interconnection Procedure, a 123-page document that contains the rules and studies required for renewable energy projects wishing to gain access to LADWP’s transmission lines, indicates that withdrawal “shall result in the loss of Interconnection Customer’s Queue Position.”

There are still unanswered questions, the primary one being “is the SOVSR officially dead?”

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