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4 Environmental Analysis 4.11 Land Use and Planning With regard to Division 5, Underground Utilities, this chapter does not apply to poles, overhead wires, and associated overhead structures used for the transmission of electric energy at nominal voltages in excess of 34.5 kV. The proposed gen-tie line would be 230 kV and, therefore, would not require underground installation. Finally, the Project would not be subject to the County's Agriculture Mitigation Ordinance as the Project does not include a Zoning Reclassification or General Plan Amendment. San Joaquin County General Plan While the Project would include cancellation of the Williamson Act contract on the Project site, the Project would be consistent with the applicable Land Use Policies for agricultural lands (Policies LU-7.1, LU-7.2, LU-7.7, and LU-7.15) because the Project is not located on Prime Farmland and because, upon decommissioning, the site could again be available for agricultural uses. Although the Project would preclude agricultural uses on the Project site for the lifespan of the Project (expected 35 years), the Project site would not be permanently converted to a non- agricultural use, thus allowing for the long-term protection of agricultural lands pursuant to Policy LU-7.1. Additionally, through the Site Approval process, the Project site would maintain the existing agricultural zoning and General Plan land use designation, allowing for future agricultural uses on the site after Project decommissioning. Regarding compatibility with surrounding agricultural uses, the Project would be sited just east of the existing PG&E Tesla Substation, which is a similar electrical utility use in the immediate vicinity. Additionally, pursuant to Policy LU-7.2, the proximity to the Tesla Substation is a unique location because it would limit the need for extensive transmission line development to connect to the Project. Further, the Project would not be incompatible with surrounding agricultural operations because similar uses currently exist in the Project vicinity, including the Tesla Substation and proximate transmission lines. Additionally, surrounding agricultural uses primarily include cattle grazing, which would be undisrupted from the Project, as the Project would be fenced off and include relatively low operational maintenance. Construction and decommissioning of the Project would include more equipment and personnel within the Project area. However, both construction and decommissioning would be short-term in nature and would be clearly divided from surrounding agricultural uses. Construction and decommissioning of the Project would not impact surrounding cattle grazing or other agricultural uses. The Project would also incorporate adequate buffers and setbacks from adjacent agricultural properties, as well as the residences west, southwest, and north of the Project site, in accordance with the requirements set forth by the County through the Site Approval application process and pursuant to Policy LU-7.7. Refer also to Section 4.2, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, of this Draft EIR for additional information pertaining to the Williamson Act contract cancellation and impacts on agricultural uses within and surrounding the Project site. Pursuant to Policy LU-7.15, impacts to agricultural resources would be less than significant with implementation of Mitigation Measure AGR-1. Thus, the Project would be consistent with these policies of the General Plan. The Project would also be consistent with the applicable Economic Development Polices (Policies ED-2.1 and ED-2.4) because the Project includes the development of energy resources and supports the continued transition to a "Green Economy," pursuant to Policy ED-2.4, by improving the reliability of renewable energy through added battery capacity in the County. Furthermore, General Plan Natural and Cultural Resources Policies NCR-5.1 and NCR-5.2 aim to support the continued growth of renewable energy sources in the County, and Policies NCR- 5.5 and NCR-5.6 aim to balance energy development with environmental protection and Griffith Battery Energy Storage Project 4.11-18 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023