Dear David, Joe, Trinnette, Philip, and Andree,
I assure you, you are getting the straight answers from the Permit Sonoma Director. The application is on hold. Has been for eleven months. The county allows time for applicants to pursue permits, including assembling the various studies, reports, agency approvals, etc. The only activity on this account over the last eleven months have been inquiries as to its status.
The file is indeed locked- this is a discretionary permit application which requires a deposit in the permit trust (escrow) account to have staff conduct work on the application. It’s a bit of a nuance, but an important one, there are no delinquent fees, there is a deposit needed to continue work. I suspect the deposit has not been made because the applicant, as I stated in the last e-mail, requested it be placed on hold back in July 2025. I also suspect, once the hold is released and if the applicant choses to move forward, the deposit will be made and work will continue. Of note is the applicant has paid over $120,000 thus far. There is no delinquency. Accounts are sometimes locked to keep staff from inadvertently billing against an inactive account.
While I have had frequent conversations with PG&E on wildfire, power shutoffs, vegetation management, and all things Potter Valley Project, I have not had a conversation with them about any battery projects. I have spoken to the Governor’s office who had (has?) a goal of so many kilowatt hours of battery back-up statewide to better understand that goal and impact to local land use issues. I was not a party to any meeting between the Sonoma County mayors and PG&E. I have no opinion on how the Moss Landing fire is impacting energy transfer negotiations or state policy. PG & E has always had their own timeframes.
When individual inquiries are made on projects which are on hold, any prepared response is charged to the department’s General Fund allocation and competes for time with permits that are ready to move forward. If you have registered your name or entity as an interested party, you will be notified of any important milestone as the project advances through the process in order to keep you up to date and offer the opportunity for input.
Sincerely,
David
David A. Rabbitt
Supervisor, Second District
County of Sonoma
County Administration Center
575 Administration Drive, Room 100
Santa Rosa, California 95403
(707) 565 – 2241