Sacramento County solar farm proposal faces opposition, as project moves forward
November 19, 2025
BOTH SIDES. A GROUP OF SPEAKERS TO MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE MADE THEIR WAY TO DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO THIS TUESDAY TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OR AGAINST THE COYOTE CREEK PROJECT. TODAY, DEVELOPERS MADE THEIR CASE BEFORE THE SACRAMENTO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS LAYING OUT THEIR PROPOSAL AND PUSHING FOR APPROVAL. THE PROJECT COVERS 2700 ACRES IN THE COMMUNITY AND TIES INTO SMUD’S ZERO CARBON PLAN TO PROVIDE GRID STABILITY AND RELIABILITY, PROVIDE A LOCAL SUPPLY OF SOLAR ENERGY FOR SACRAMENTO COUNTY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU DO FAR FLUNG PROJECTS, YOU HAVE LINE LOSS AND INEFFICIENCY, ADDITIONAL COST OF WHEELING, ETC. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD PROJECT. SUPPORTERS SAY IT FITS WITH AGRICULTURAL USE, PRESERVES LAND AND EXPANDS RENEWABLE ENERGY. WE NEED ENERGY TO SUSTAIN US INTO THE FUTURE. WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE REGULATIONS THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT WITH WITH ELECTRIC CARS, WITH AI, ALL OF THAT. WE NEED THE ENERGY. AND SO WE NEED A BALANCE OF FIND THE RIGHT PLACE. BUT WE NEED IT. RIGHT. AND SO I’M RESPECTFUL OF EVERYBODY THAT’S HERE. THAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT IF NOT HERE, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO DO IT? WHILE OPPONENTS ARGUE IT WILL COST THE AREA RURAL LAND, THREATEN HABITAT STRAIN WATER RESOURCES AND WORSEN AIR QUALITY. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TEMPORARY PROJECT THAT WILL BE DECOMMISSIONED AFTER 35 YEARS OF OPERATION, BUT WE ARE SAYING NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DOING AFTERWARDS TO TY TO REPLANT LITTLE SAPLING TREES, IT’S NOT GOING TO MAKE UP FOR THE HUNDREDS OF YEAR OLD OAK TREES THAT ARE REALLY CREATING A VIBRANT ECOSYSTEM. IN A STATEMENT, SMUD SAID ITS ROLE IS LIMITED TO POWER PURCHASING, BUT NOTED THAT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN THROUGH EXTENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. MARICELA DE LA CRUZ. KCRA THREE NEWS. THE SUPERVISOR’S MEETING STARTED AT TWO THIS AFTERNOON, AND THEY’RE EXPECTED TO VOTE IN THE NEXT HOUR, EITHER REJECTING OR APPROVIN
Sacramento County solar farm proposal faces opposition, as project moves forward
Updated: 8:35 PM PST Nov 18, 2025
A proposed solar farm project in Sacramento County is facing opposition as developers presented their case to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for approval of the project’s environmental review.Just before 8 p.m., the board voted to send the project forward. The proposed Coyote Creek solar farm project would be located in eastern Sacramento County, more specifically south of U.S. Route 50, northwest of Rancho Murrieta, southeast of Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA), and south of White Rock Road in the Cosumnes community, according to the county. A representative from D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, the project’s developer, explained that the solar farm’s objectives include providing grid stability and a local supply of solar energy to reduce line loss and inefficiency.Supporters of the project argue that it fits with agricultural use, preserves land, and expands renewable energy. “We need energy to sustain us into the future. You talk about all of these regulations that we’re talking about with electric cars, AI, all of that – we need the energy,” said Paul Smith, a supporter of Coyote Creek. “We need it. I’m respectful of everybody that’s here, that’s on the other side, but if not here, where are we going to do it?”Opponents, however, argue that the project will cost the area rural land, threaten habitat, strain water resources, and worsen air quality. “This is proposed to be a temporary project that will be decommissioned after 35 years of operation, but we are saying no matter what you are doing afterwards to try to replant little sapling trees, it’s not going to make up for the hundreds of years old oak trees that are really creating a vibrant ecosystem,” said Liz Lim from the Environmental Council of Sacramento.In a statement, SMUD said its role is limited to power purchasing but noted that the project has been through extensive environmental review. The Board of Supervisors meeting started at 2 p.m., with public comment ending just before 7:30 p.m. The board unanimously approved the environmental review presented by the developers.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
A proposed solar farm project in Sacramento County is facing opposition as developers presented their case to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for approval of the project’s environmental review.
Just before 8 p.m., the board voted to send the project forward.
The proposed Coyote Creek solar farm project would be located in eastern Sacramento County, more specifically south of U.S. Route 50, northwest of Rancho Murrieta, southeast of Prairie City State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA), and south of White Rock Road in the Cosumnes community, according to the county.
A representative from D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, the project’s developer, explained that the solar farm’s objectives include providing grid stability and a local supply of solar energy to reduce line loss and inefficiency.
Supporters of the project argue that it fits with agricultural use, preserves land, and expands renewable energy.
“We need energy to sustain us into the future. You talk about all of these regulations that we’re talking about with electric cars, AI, all of that – we need the energy,” said Paul Smith, a supporter of Coyote Creek. “We need it. I’m respectful of everybody that’s here, that’s on the other side, but if not here, where are we going to do it?”
Opponents, however, argue that the project will cost the area rural land, threaten habitat, strain water resources, and worsen air quality.
“This is proposed to be a temporary project that will be decommissioned after 35 years of operation, but we are saying no matter what you are doing afterwards to try to replant little sapling trees, it’s not going to make up for the hundreds of years old oak trees that are really creating a vibrant ecosystem,” said Liz Lim from the Environmental Council of Sacramento.
In a statement, SMUD said its role is limited to power purchasing but noted that the project has been through extensive environmental review.
The Board of Supervisors meeting started at 2 p.m., with public comment ending just before 7:30 p.m.
The board unanimously approved the environmental review presented by the developers.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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