Upper Lake Wood Processing Campus

Frequently Asked Questions:

What impact will there be to air quality?
According to the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District, very little. In fact, a diesel truck driving down Main Street generates more emissions. 

Has an air quality permit been issued?
Not yet. Permit applications aren’t reviewed until the equipment has already been installed and is operating in its testing stage. However, based on testing that has occurred in other California air quality districts, we are confident that the county’s air quality standards will be met. 

Is the generated energy sold to anyone? 
No. Everything generated goes to operating the site. 

Will the operating system be loud for neighbors?
No. The units are 1,000 feet from neighbors and so the equipment will not be heard by surrounding homes. 

Will there be extra traffic on Highway 20?
No. We don’t expect more than a few extra cars on the road. 

Will Elk Mountain Road be used to transport forest material?
No. We have stated no intention to use this road and we will be using the Forest Service’s contractors to remove and transport wood chips. 

Will there be lots of hazardous materials?
No. There will be some materials used for cleaning/maintenance (the same kind of cleaning materials you keep in your house) and those will be stored in fire-proof cabinets on site. 

Will the plant impact the water channel nearby that is prominent to local wildlife?
No. The water channel is located outside of the area leased and used for the plant. We also only plan to fence one acre of the five acres so as to minimize as much impact on wildlife as possible.

If Upper Lake were to flood due to a levee break, would the wood chips get caught in the water and cause blockages? 
No. The processing campus is located outside of the current flood plain per GPS coordinates provided by Lake County. We also will install control barriers around wood chip piles to prevent chips from floating away in any amount that could create a blockage.

Will the processing plant negatively impact the scenic corridor?
No. The plant is located more than 1,000 feet from the highway and is outside of the corridor. The wood chip piles are also planned to not exceed 8 feet in height which is the same size as many of the brambles in the area so that they do not stand out. 

Will any potential archaeological sites be affected?
We have taken steps to avoid this. Most of the equipment will be surface mounted to avoid ground disturbance with the exception of the county required 27,000-gallon tank which will have a cement foundation. We have also retained via contract the Habematolel tribe to act as cultural monitor in training personnel and on-site observations during equipment installation. 

Will the gravel sink into the ground and make the area unusable in the future?
No. We will be using gravel, but we will also be installing a ground cloth underlayment which prevents gravel from sinking and will allow it to be removed at the end of the lease.

When will the proceeding campus become operational?
The earliest possible date is October 2025.