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5 Comparison of Comparison of Alternatives <br /> resources. The gen-tie line to the Tesla Substation would be approximately 3,000 feet longer than <br /> the gen-tie line required for the Project and would require crossing West Patterson Pass Road. It <br /> should be noted that the Applicant does not own the Northern Site and there is no certainty that <br /> the property could be purchased or leased for development. <br /> 5.5.1 Impact Analysis <br /> 5.5.1.1 Aesthetics <br /> The Northern Site Alternative site size is approximately 36 acres larger than the Project site; <br /> however, it is anticipated that the same amount of acreage would be used for development of <br /> battery energy storage facilities. Similar to the Project site, the Northern Site Alternative is near <br /> residences and local roadways, and is anticipated to have similar visibility. Due to the increased <br /> gen-tie line length, aesthetic impacts of the Northern Site Alternative site would potentially be <br /> greater than the aesthetic impacts of the Project. <br /> 5.5.1.2 Agriculture and Forestry Resources <br /> The Northern Site Alternative is classified as Grazing Land under the California Department of <br /> Conservation's (DOC) Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program (FMMP) (DOC 2023), and <br /> review of aerial imagery indicates that the site is unirrigated and therefore the agricultural capacity <br /> of the site is limited. Under the Northern Site Alternative, battery energy storage facilities would <br /> be installed on agricultural properties under a Williamson Act contract and a Williamson Act <br /> contract cancellation would still be required. Mitigation Measure AGR-1 would be implemented to <br /> cancel the existing Williamson Act contract, similar to the Project. <br /> 5.5.1.3 Air Quality <br /> Ground disturbance area, number of vehicles, and heavy equipment use is anticipated to be the <br /> same for the Northern Site Alternative as the Project. Therefore, air quality impacts would be <br /> similar to the Project. <br /> 5.5.1.4 Biological Resources <br /> The Northern Site Alternative site was not available to access to assess biological resources; <br /> however, based on its similar use as grazing land, its proximity to the Project site, and review or <br /> aerial imagery to identify vegetative cover, the alternative site is anticipated to have similar <br /> biological resources as the Project site. Potential impacts to biological resources from <br /> development of the Northern Site Alternative would be mitigated with Mitigation Measures 13I0-1 <br /> through 13I0-3. Because the gen-tie line would be increased in length compared to the Project, <br /> impacts to biological resources due to ground disturbance for gen-tie poles and/or underground <br /> gen-tie installation would be greater than the Project. <br /> 5.5.1.5 Cultural Resources <br /> It is unknown whether there are archaeological or historical resources on the Northern Site <br /> Alternative site. Potential impacts to cultural resources from development of the Northern Site <br /> Alternative would be anticipated to be mitigated with Mitigation Measures CUL-1 and CUL-2. <br /> Because the gen-tie line would be increased in length compared to the Project, impacts due to <br /> ground disturbance for gen-tie poles and/or underground gen-tie installation would be greater <br /> than the Project. <br /> Griffith Energy Storage Project 5-12 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 <br /> Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023 <br />