Shasta County supervisors were briefed March 24 on a 3-megawatt solar project in Manton that has already won Planning Commission approval and could begin construction by Q3 2026 if the board ratifies the permit.
Renewable Properties presented the Battle Creek Bottom Road Solar Project (UP 24-0009) as a roughly 25-acre photovoltaic facility on the southeast corner of Battle Creek Bottom Road and Wilson Hill Road. In the board packet, the company said the project would occupy less than 7% of a 376-acre parcel, interconnect to the existing distribution grid and power about 775 homes annually.
The presentation said Shasta County’s Planning Commission approved the use permit on Jan. 22, 2026, and adopted an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project at that hearing. It also said the site is zoned Unclassified and that solar is an allowed use with a use permit under county zoning.
Renewable Properties said the project fits county policy encouraging renewable energy and described it as a locally generated resource that could help replace some generation lost after PG&E decommissioned the Kilarc–Cow Creek Hydroelectric Project. The packet also said the project has an executed long-term PG&E power purchase agreement under the ReMAT program.
The company said it completed biological, cultural, botanical, geotechnical, glare and bald eagle studies, and that the project was adjusted in response to public input. Those changes included oak woodland mitigation, native drought-tolerant screening along Battle Creek Bottom Road, mechanical-only vegetation management, removal of barbed-wire fencing and an additional bald eagle survey.
A separate geotechnical letter said pile foundations may be suitable, but that predrilling will likely be needed in some areas because of shallow bedrock. The letter said the issue should be confirmed with a site-specific investigation before final design.
The board packet did not include a final ratification vote or updated county fiscal impacts.