Orinda Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Project

Project Overview 

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) developed a 4.6-megawatt photovolataic (PV) solar energy project on EBMUD-owned land in Orinda. Completed in 2024, the Orinda Photovolatic Solar Energy Project is EBMUD's largest solar installation to date and will generate approximately 10 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean, renewable electricity a year – offsetting nearly 10 percent of EBMUD's energy costs. The Orinda PV project assists EBMUD in meeting its Energy Policy goal to be carbon-free for indirect emissions by 2030.

The project qualifies for PG&E’s Renewable Energy Self-Generation Bill Credit Transfer (RES-BCT) Program, which allows renewable electricity produced by the project to offset energy consumed from up to 50 EBMUD electrical accounts with PG&E. The project site is located directly across Bear Creek Road from PG&E’s Sobrante Substation, thereby reducing potential impacts associated with interconnection to the electrical grid. In addition, to preserve the open space character of the area, EBMUD has incorporated vegetative screening into the project to minimize its visibility from Bear Creek Road and nearby trails.

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), EBMUD completed a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and determined that, with mitigation, this project will not generate significant impacts. All comments received on the MND have been compiled and responded to in the Final MND including any changes and clarifications to the MND. A copy of the Final MND is available by download via the links at the bottom of this page. The EBMUD Board of Directors certified the Final MND and approved the project on February 11, 2020 at the regularly scheduled meeting in the Board Room at EBMUD Administrative offices, 375 Eleventh Street, Oakland, CA 94607. 

Workplan and schedule 

• Orinda City Council Meeting – March 5, 2019
• Orinda Planning Commission Meeting – July 9, 2019
• Public Meeting for MND – September 11, 2019    
• Public Review of MND - August 30 – September 30 ,      2019   
• EBMUD Board Certification of Final MND – February 11, 2020
• Construction February - December 2023
• Operational September 2024

Contact Info

Project Email: DuffelPVREP@ebmud.com

Emergencies or after hours, call EBMUD at 866-403-2683

Contractors: For bid opportunities on EBMUD projects, see Business Center.

Studies and Publications