The Imperial County Planning Commission convened on March 12, 2025, to discuss significant developments regarding the Wisteria Solar project. The meeting focused on a request to extend the current development agreement for an additional ten years, which would allow for the continuation of solar energy projects in the area.

The Wisteria Solar site, originally approved in February, encompasses over 2,600 acres and is designed to generate approximately 250 megawatts of power. Currently, part of the site has been developed and is operational, including five conditional use permits (CUPs). The planning development services department received a notification from Kent, the project applicant, seeking to amend the existing agreement to update performance milestones and time limits while allowing for the development of 11 remaining solar projects.

During the meeting, staff recommended that the Planning Commission hold a public hearing to gather input from both proponents and opponents of the proposed project. They also advised the commission to consider certifying the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and approving a resolution to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt an ordinance for the proposed amendments, including the time extension.

Christina Gispert, a representative from RWE, presented on behalf of the project. She highlighted the operational success of the existing solar project and emphasized the importance of keeping the conditional use permits active for future development. Gispert noted that interconnection challenges had delayed progress but expressed optimism about the potential for further development. She indicated that the project team plans to file for interconnection on a new transmission line in 2026, which could lead to increased power generation capabilities.

The commission did not raise any immediate questions or concerns, and the meeting concluded with a focus on the next steps for the project, including the public hearing and further discussions on the proposed amendments. The overall sentiment was one of cautious optimism regarding the future of solar energy development in Imperial County.