Sarah is an Environmental Analyst who focuses on land and project development, permit feasibility, interconnection, and compliance. Her role includes initial site review analysis and due diligence, entitlement, Conditional Use Permit (CUP) initiation and management, and managing and facilitating processes associated with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). With direct project experience in El Dorado, Imperial, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Placer, San Bernardino, Tulare, and Yuba Counties of California, Sarah works as a direct liaison in project development efforts. Sarah oversees a variety of projects throughout the development cycles including land development, environmental studies, fatal flaw and feasibility analyses, and contract management. Sarah uses the following desktop analysis features to early evaluate project viability:
- National Aerial Imagery Program (NAIP) aerial photography
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps
- California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB)
- Soil data from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (to identify soils sensitive to erosion and compaction)
- NRCS farmlands data (to identify farmlands that are prime, unique, or of statewide importance)
- Land use data from NRCS
- National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) (to assess waters of the United States)
- National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps, NRCS hydric soils data, and NHD data (to assess wetland locations)
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain maps
- Federal and state plant and wildlife agencies, descriptions, and occurrences of rare, threatened, and endangered plants and animals and their habitats
- Conservation areas and special management areas
Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation from Sacramento State University.
Recent accomplishments:
Successfully permitted several hybrid solar/ energy storage and standalone batteries across 5 counties over 740 MW of renewable generation.