(Does Not Include Plume Analysis)

VIEWPOINT

EXISTING VISUAL SETTING

VISUAL CHANGE

IMPACT SIGNIFICANCE

Observation Point (KOP)

Description

Quality

Concern

Viewer Exposure

Sensitivity

Overall Visual Change

Conditions

Mitigation

Visibility

Viewers

of View

Figures 4A-D, 10A-D

Southbound view for travelers on Midway Rd, from about 600 ft to 100 ft from the site.

Open grassland with backdrop of Diablo Range Peaks. Human-made elements detract from the near view.

Viewers anticipate a landscape of open hills or valley. Visual change would be perceived as adverse.

High

Very Low

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Prominent geometric forms and rectilinear mass of the 1,060 foot-long 22-cell cooling tower with a wall-like appearance. Facility would be highly dominant at foreground viewing distance.

High

High

Moderately High

High

VIS-6

Adverse but Less Than Significant (Adverse and Significant Direct and Cumulative Impact w/o mitigation)

Figures 5A-D

View seen by northbound travelers on Midway Rd, about 0.25-mile southeast of the site.

Open expanse of grasslands in foreground and middleground. Transmission lines and grasslands in the middleground and background.

Viewer experiences a landscape in transition from energy development (substation, transmission lines and towers) to agriculture. No particularly unique or pleasing elements within the view that draw a viewer’s attention.

High

Very Low

Moderate

Moderate

Low

Prominent vertical forms of the HRSG stacks. Structural mass would be greater than surrounding facilities. Facilities would be co-dominant with surrounding landscape features.

High

Moderate

Moderate

Moderately High

VIS-6

(Adverse and Significant Cumulative Impact w/o mitigation)

Figures 6A-B

View from the intersection of Midway and Patterson Pass roads, about 0.7- mile southeast of the site.

Landscape is lacking in prominent natural features. Transmission lines converging in middleground.

There are no unique or pleasing elements within the view that draw a viewer’s attention. Travelers anticipate a landscape with a mix of agricultural and energy infrastructure.

Moderate

Very Low

Moderate

Moderate

Low

Vertical geometric forms and structural mass in landscape dominated by open lattice structures. Facilities would be co-dominant at this middleground viewing distance.

Low

Low

Low

Low

No Mitigation Required

Less Than Significant

Figures 7A-B

View from the nearest residences located approximately one mile southeast of the site.

Foreground: annual grasslands Middleground and Background: transmission lines converging on the Tesla Substation.

Residents tend to have a higher level of concern regarding views in proximity to their homes.

Moderately Low

Very Low

High

Moderate

Moderate

Forms with structural mass added to landscape dominated by vertical linear lattice like structures. Facilities would be co-dominant at background viewing distance.

Low

Low

Low

Low

No Mitigation Required

Adverse but Less Than Significant

Figures 8A-B

View north from the entrance to the Mulqueeney Ranch, about 0.7 mile south of the TPP, on Patterson Pass Road

Middleground: Tesla Substation. Background: Numerous transmission lines converging on the Tesla Substation and WECs.

Travelers in the area of the Mulqueeney Ranch would anticipate a foreground to middleground landscape with the presence of energy infrastructure.

Moderately Low

Very Low

Moderately Low

Moderately Low

Low

Geometric forms with structural mass added into landscape dominated by vertical linear lattice like structures. Structural mass would be greater than surrounding facilities. Facilities would appear co-dominant.

Moderately Low

Moderately Low

Low

Moderately Low

No Mitigation Required

Less Than Significant

Figures 9A-B

View to the north from the Union Pacific Rail Line, 1.3 miles southwest of the project

Foreground and middleground: annual grassland and rolling hills with small rock outcrops.

Background: WECs along ridgelines and low hills.

Commuters on the Altamont Commuter Express train would anticipate a landscape with scattered transmission towers, WECs, roads, and energy infrastructure (Tesla Substation).

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Moderate

Geometric forms with structural mass added into landscape dominated by vertical linear lattice like structures. Structural mass greater than surrounding facilities. Facilities would be co-dominant.

Moderate

Low

Low

Moderately Low

No Mitigation Required

Adverse but Less Than Significant

11A-B

View to northwest from driveway on hill above water pump station site

Foreground: grassland. Middleground: CA aqueduct, Midway Road. Background: hills and WECs.

Viewers are residents with higher sensitivity to surroundings.

High

Low

High

Moderately High

Moderately High

Project introduces a new small structure into landscape with existing disturbance – aqueduct, roadway, dirt roads.

Moderately Low

Low

None

Low

No Mitigation Required

Adverse but Less Than Significant

13A-B

View from residence to proposed gas metering site

Foreground: PG&E Maintenance Center yard and Patterson Pass Road. Middleground: tilled agricultural fields.

Background: Diablo Range (distant)

Viewers are residents, however, road creates sense of separation from landscape.

Moderately low

Low

Moderate

Moderately Low

Moderately Low

Introduction of new structures into a landscape that has existing similar structural elements nearby.

Low

Moderately Low

Low

Low

No Mitigation Required

Less Than Significant