Oral Argument in our appeal will occur on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 9 a.m. in San Francisco before the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District. The courthouse address is 350 McAllister Street, close to City Hall. Please join us at the hearing.
North Livermore Valley is one of the few unspoiled scenic corridors and agricultural areas remaining in Alameda County.
Just a short drive or bike ride from the City of Livermore and north of Highway 580, North Livermore Valley is an agricultural community with stunning views in all directions of pasturelands, rolling hills and distant mountains.
North Livermore Valley has been zoned for agricultural and rural residential uses since the 1950s. For nearly the same period Alameda County has recognized North Livermore Avenue in its General Plan as a scenic corridor and sought to preserve the area’s outstanding scenic quality.
Furthermore, the agricultural land of North Livermore Valley provides open space and habitat for multiple endangered and threatened species, playing a vital role in preserving the biodiversity of the East Bay.
This pristine open space and agricultural community is under threat. Two industrial solar power plants have been proposed by private, for-profit energy corporations for the northern portion of the valley along North Livermore Avenue between Manning and May School Roads. One massive project, the Aramis Project, has already been approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The power plants would dramatically and permanently alter the nature of the valley from open farmland to an industrial zone dedicated the commercial generation of electricity for sale, largely for sale outside of Alameda County.
The combined project area of the power plants is approximately 800 acres, a size greater than Livermore Airport or the campus at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. More than fourteen San Francisco Premium Outlets shopping complexes in Livermore would fit within the area of the planned industrial solar plants.
Nearly 325,000 eight foot high solar arrays will be spread across the landscape. In particular, the Aramis project includes plans for overhead electricity transmission lines in multiple locations, some 10 stories tall. In addition, the Aramis project calls for the installation of scores of trailer-truck size lithium-ion battery stations. This will create a new wildfire risk to valley that never previously existed.
The impact of the two industrial solar plants would not be limited to one massive section of the valley. The agricultural land and open space of Alameda County is at risk.
If we do not challenge in the Court the County’s approval of the Aramis Project the precedent will be created that industrial solar power plants qualify as appropriate uses of land zoned for agricultural and rural residential uses throughout Alameda County.
Solar energy operators are already targeting the North Livermore Valley for additional projects. Within a decade, the North Livermore Valley as it has existed for centuries could be lost forever. Utility companies and other major corporations could sweep in, purchase ranches and farms and convert the valley into an endless, barren expanse of industrial solar power plants. Solar plants will likely be constructed on agricultural land across Alameda County.
Please Help Us Save North Livermore Valley.
The scenic vistas, wildlife habitat and open space of our valley belong to all of us, and must be safeguarded for future generations. We are preparing to file a lawsuit to overturn the decision by the Supervisors to approve the Aramis Project. This is our only way to save the valley.
While we cannot offer any prediction on the outcome of a lawsuit, we believe in the strength of our case. We will argue that Alameda County’s approval of the solar projects violates state environmental law, the county’s own General Plan and Zoning Code, and voter-approved initiative Measure D which preserves open space and agricultural land in rural Alameda County.
Your donation is vital to safeguarding the valley now and preserving it for future generations.
“The financial burden of the litigation need not fall too heavily on any of us. We just all must step forward. If 1,000 people will each donate $100, or 500 persons each donate $200, we will quickly reach the goal set for the Go Fund Me campaign,” stated Chris O’Brien, chairperson of the Save North Livermore Valley steering committee.
We greatly appreciate every donation. 100% of all funds raised will to the litigation fund. Thank you for helping us reach our goal.
Please donate today to the Save North Livermore Valley litigation fund
