Imperial East

Maps

California Variance Areas	Imperial East SEZ
Letter (2.17 MB)  Poster (5.08 MB)	Letter (281 KB)

SEZ Analysis

 Imperial East SEZ Analysis: Draft PEIS

(2.9 MB)

 SEZ Action Plans from the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS

(13.2 MB)

The proposed Imperial East solar energy zone (SEZ) is located in California in gravel flats within the Sonoran Desert. The proposed SEZ is located on BLM-administered land within the El Centro Field Office.

Size and Location

The proposed Imperial East SEZ has a total area of 5,722 acres (23 km²). In the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS, 5 acres (0.02 km²) of wetlands along the southern border of the SEZ were identified as non-development areas, leaving the SEZ with a potentially developable area of 5,717 acres (23.1 km²).

The proposed Imperial East SEZ is located in Imperial County in southeastern California, near the United States–Mexico border. The proposed SEZ lies in East Mesa, within the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) and the Sonoran Desert. In 2008, the county population was 180,493, while the surrounding two-county region in Imperial County and Yuma County, Arizona had a total population of 387,798.

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Physical Characteristics

Scrubland vegetation reflects the arid climate. Much of the SEZ is covered with creosote flats consisting of generally tall, widely spaced creosotebushes on gravel. The south-central portion contains a more dense and diverse set of shrubs, with some small trees and a few palm trees. The Imperial Valley groundwater basin underlies the area. Annual rainfall averages about 3 to 4 in. (8 to 10 cm).

In addition to State Route 98, several gravel and dirt roads cross the SEZ, as well as several transmission lines. Communication and camera towers are also visible from much of the SEZ.

There is an operating geothermal plant about 3 mi (4.8 km) northwest of the proposed SEZ. Little other commercial or industrial activity exists in the surrounding area, while agricultural areas lie about 3 mi (5 km) to the west, across the border in Mexico.

Technical Suitability

I-8 runs east–west along the northeast edge of the proposed SEZ, while State Route 98, a two-lane highway, passes through the southern edge. The All-American Canal runs parallel to the southern boundary of the proposed SEZ, about 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from the boundary. Two hydropower facilities exist along the canal, along with associated dams and substations.

A 115-kV transmission line intersects the southwest corner of the proposed SEZ, and a 500‑kV line is located about 0.4 mi (0.6 km) to the south, running east-west. As of August 2011, one solar project application was pending in the proposed SEZ.