Draft Protected Areas Exclusion (Geothermal) for 2026-2027 IRP

<p><span>The geospatial data reflected in this Protected Area Layer contain minor data versioning and consolidation updates from the</span><a target='_blank' href='https://caenergy.maps.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=0e216708f0c44b2984bf9eded1be0c3f' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span> previous Protected Area Layer</span></a><span>. This layer extends outside of the geographic boundaries of California to include electrically-in-state southern Nevada and western Arizona areas of the CAISO.&nbsp;The components of the Protected Area Layer mostly pertain to natural and wilderness areas where development of utility-scale renewable energy is prohibited and were heavily based on RETI 1.0 blackout areas. The protected area layer is distinguished for conventional geothermal technology by the latest </span><a target='_blank' href='https://www.blm.gov/programs/fish-and-wildlife/sagegrouse/blm-sagegrouse-plans' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span>Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Management Areas</span></a><span style='font-size:8.0pt;'><span style='line-height:116%;'>&nbsp;</span></span><span> (note: the Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Management Areas provide separate exclusion areas for solar, wind and geothermal resources).</span></p><p><span>More information is found in the </span><a target='_blank' href='https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/energy-division/documents/integrated-resource-plan-and-long-term-procurement-plan-irp-ltpp/2024-2026-irp-cycle-events-and-materials/assumptions-for-the-2026-2027-tpp/final_2025_busbar_mappingmag_presentation_cec.pdf' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span>CEC presentation</span></a><span> from the August 19 webinar, as well as the 2023 </span><a target='_blank' href='https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/california-energy-planning-library/land-use-screens' rel='nofollow ugc noopener noreferrer'><span>Land Use Screens Staff Report in the CEC Energy Planning Library</span></a><span>.&nbsp;</span><br />&nbsp;</p>