John - Sierra2theSea

End of an era

March 25,2024

As they say in show business, ”that’s all folks.” Phillips 66 this month has filed what will be up to a 10-year plan to demolish their 218-acre Santa Maria refinery, a local landmark of the crude oil era dating from 1955.The company plans to remediate the site removing 1200 truckloads and 256 trainloads of pipeline and debris – perhaps not taking it back to nature, but restoring vegetation to the site.San Luis Obispo County is processing a draft EIR on the project posted in the past few days.

The Nipomo Mesa refinery along Highway 1 processed approximately 44,500 barrels of crude oil per day.It converted heavy crude oil into high quality feed stock for additional processing at a connected sister plant in the Bay Area. It also produced petroleum coke.The plant employed from 150 to 200 workers.

The refinery brought in oil from offshore the California coast until January of last year along with oil fields in the Santa Maria area. Oil came by pipeline and delivered by truck. Then the oil was shipped off by pipeline, rail and truck to the Bay Area to the Rodeo Refinery in Contra Costa County 200 miles away.

The landmark Rodeo Refinery on the edge of San Francisco Bay, had its own storied oil era history, having been built in 1896 as the first major refinery in the Bay Area. It produced more than 4,000,000 gallons of motor fuel daily.

The end came as both the supply from offshore oil platforms dwindled, and the refinery destination in the Bay Area started modifications to end oil processing.Phillips 66 announced it would transition to renewable feed stocks to make renewable diesel and other products.This is happening just this month as the change to a renewable fuel production hub is scheduled by the end of the first quarter of this year.The company ceased all crude processing activities at the plant in February.

Phillips 66 made a final investment decision to move forward with the conversion project in May 2022. At that time Phillips 66 explained that the scope of the project includes the construction of pre-treatment units and the repurposing of existing hydrocracking units to enable production of renewable fuels. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to have the capacity to produce more than 50,000 barrels per day (800 MMgy) of renewable fuels, including renewable diesel, renewable gasoline and sustainable aviation fuel.

The environmental document filed with the county this month notes that until the jungle of above-ground structures are removed, engineers will not be able to test the extent of remediation necessary for all the contaminated soil at the base of the plant. Contaminated soil will be shipped off site by both truck and rail,over 200 thousand cubic yards, according to the environmental document.

The plan offers no hint as to the future of the site once it is demolished and remediated. Comments on the draft EIR are open now, and will be received until May 6.Once the draft becomes a final EIR it will be in front of the Planning Commission perhaps by summer. The matter could be appealed to both the Board of Supervisors and or the Coastal Commission making it uncertain when the demo could begin.For more information contact Susan Strachan with the County at 805/ 788-2129 or review the document online.

The draft report says above ground demolition is anticipated to take approximately eight months, with soil remediation activities beginning as areas are cleared and soil tested. The bulk of the remediation work would be completed within the first three years; however, it would likely continue at a reduced level for up to 10 years, depending on site conditions and work plans.

One thing San Luis Obispo residents can count on is there will no longer be those midnight oil trains rattling past Cal Poly on their way to the Bay Area. Nor will the refinery be connected to the Contra Costa plant by four 200-mile pipelines linking the two plants that are also being dismantled or sold off.

Back in 2017 Phillips 66 tried to expand oil train shipments into the Santa Maria plant arguing that would make them more competitive. The company wanted to move up to 250 trains annually, about 80 tanker cars carrying about 50,000 barrels of crude to the refinery from both the north and south.News reports say the prospect of derailment of these trains prompted opposition to the project from about 45 school districts, cities, and counties So residents rose up and convinced the SLO Board of Supervisors to turn down the plan fearing more oil trains rumbling through the area.

Talk about an end to an era,consider what Central Coast residents are talking about now as this place will meet the wrecking ball. We are no longer arguing over the future of oil or oil platforms – the discussion is about renewables like offshore wind and energy storage.

Center state in line for more storms

March 25,2024

California is set to receive more wet weather as we move into April with the focus on Central California slated to get hit with four storms over the next two weeks. Taking a look at Shasta Dam she now holds over 4,000,000 acre feet and is 89% full and 115% of average. So far this year the key reservoir has received 58 inches of rain, on track to meet last year’s 76 inches for the water year. Oroville is also above average.

A look at the maps below show rain in the next week all over California with 3 inches or so in Southern California, and in the Central Sierra. The Climate Prediction Center map shows the southern Sierra getting a good dose of precipitation in the next week.

$120mil Golden State Hydrogen plant in works near Pixley

Phoenix-based Proteum Energy will invest $120 million to build a clean hydrogen plant in Central California near the town of Pixley. Tulare County is processing an application to build on a 104 acre site at the southwest corner of Road 120 and Avenue 120, just west of Highway 99.

The facility will be called Golden State Hydrogen with a capacity to produce up to 35 metric tons of fuel grade hydrogen per day, which will then be liquefied, stored and delivered under a joint development agreement. That is with a second firm who will store up to 150 metric tons of liquid hydrogen and ship 12+ truckloads of liquid hydrogen per day.

The mid-state location was selected in part because it is across the street from Calgren Renewable Fuels who produce ethanol on site that will be used to make liquid hydrogen.

The new Proteum site will also have room for a 23MW solar farm and battery storage. Helping to move the project forward is the fact that the location is already zoned M1, allowing the company to simply apply for building permits with all approvals in place.They do need Air Board approval . The county published a Notice of Exemption (NOE) posted Jan 31.

The notice says” The project will include a 104-acre, 23-megawatt peak solar array with a 20 megawatt per hour storage that will supplement 20MW of power generated on site. The facility would generate 30 metric tons per day of low/negative carbon intensity fuel cell grade renewable clean and green hydrogen for transportation. Clean hydrogen will be liquefied on site, stored, and trucked to refueling stations and fleets throughout California. The hydrogen plant will also produce at least 1,800 MMBtu/day of renewable natural gas, which will be delivered to a Southern California Gas natural gas distribution line near the site.”

The site is also the confluence of numerous ag and energy related companies, including California Dairies processing plant, Calgren RenewableFuels, and the JD Heiskell feed mill. It is also a transfer point for renewable fuels to be injected into the Southern California Gas lines distribution system. A number of nearby dairies supply methane rich biogas that is converted into renewable fuel for trucks to take the place of diesel that is favored to reduce California’s carbon footprint.

This existing cluster of ag and energy companies attracted Proteum Energy to the site along with the fact Highway 99 has both rail,highway and distribution lines to connect up and down the state.The town of Pixley “town plan” calls for industrial zoning that dates from a county decision in 2014.

A memorandum posted online says Proteum will purchase 150 acres of land for $6.5 million. According to the memo, escrow closed on the property a few months ago.

“The benefit of Tulare County’s support and enthusiasm for Golden State Hydrogen cannot be overstated. Receiving prompt project approval and an NOE will take months, if not years, off our planning” says the company president Larry Tree.

In December the University of California posted this news release, announcing federal funds were on their way to California to boost the construction of infrastructure for this new clean burning fuel.
The sectors where hydrogen power could make the biggest difference — like trucking, shipping and aviation — are still dominated by fossil fuels.

The UC posting says “You might remember from chemistry class that hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. You might not have learned that it’s also a powerful way to deliver clean, carbon-free energy. When it’s fed into a device called a fuel cell, hydrogen generates electricity and emits only heat and harmless water vapor.
Energy experts say hydrogen has great potential to cut global carbon emissions and keep toxic pollutants out of our air and water. And yet the technology hasn’t completely caught on in California, even as the state leads the way in other climate-friendly tech like electric vehicles. A few transit agencies run fuel cell buses, and you might be able to spot the occasional hydrogen-powered car on the highway. But the sectors where hydrogen power could make the biggest difference — like trucking, shipping and aviation — are still dominated by fossil fuels.
As the State strives to meet its goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, hydrogen’s fortunes might be starting to change. In October, the federal Department of Energy chose California as one of seven hydrogen hubs, regions where the agency will fund coordinated networks of hydrogen fuel producers, purveyors and consumers. A University of California-backed consortium called the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems, or ARCHES, managed the state’s application to DOE, and will steer up to $1.2 billion in federal funding toward 39 hydrogen infrastructure projects up and down the state.
Altogether, ARCHES projects are estimated to eliminate 2 million metric tons of carbon emissions every year, equivalent to taking 445,000 gas-powered cars off the road. They’ll create over 200,000 new good jobs. And by swapping diesel combustion engines spewing toxic exhaust for zero-pollution fuel cells, Californians will save nearly $3 billion in health care and related costs annually.”Also the California Energy Commission states that” Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are critical to the state’s go

Rainfall totals at Shasta Dam on same path as last year.

Rainfall at Shasta Dam in Northern California is roughly on the same path or trend as it was last year when the big reservoir got a total of over 76 inches of rain in the water year.

As of mid-February, Shasta has received about 40 inches of rain today – almost the same as last year at this time.

Of course, last year was a big rainfall year with a number of atmospheric rivers plowing into the state.

Unlike last year, the reservoir is 83 percent full at this time prompting Bureau of Reclamation officials to release more water downstream this month.Storage today is 121% of average.The dam is holding more than 1,000,000 acre feet more than this time last year.

Good storage in California’s largest reservoir at this time bodes well for the water year for the rest of the state dependent on transfer of water south each year. Nearby Oroville is 80% full right now.

The Redding newspaper reports:

“Pushed by above normal rainfall for this time of year, the water level at Lake Shasta has risen nearly 27 feet since Jan. 1, brightening the outlook for agencies, irrigators and wildlife that depend on water from the lake.

In January alone, the level of California’s largest reservoir rose 20 feet, according to figures from the state Department of Water Resources. And by Feb. 9, the water level reached its highest level so far this year, 1,040 feet above feet sea level and 27 feet above the Jan. 1 watermark.

A fuller Lake Shasta was good news to Don Bader, the area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which manages Shasta Dam.

“It looks like we will be plum full at Shasta, so we’re managing it so we don’t fill up too quick. So we’re looking very, very positive on our outlook right now,” Bader said.

To keep the lake from filling too quickly, the bureau more than doubled the amount of water released from the dam starting Jan. 31. As of Tuesday, nearly 14,000 cubic feet per second was being released from the dam.”

The precipitation index for Northern California is 85% of average so far this year while further south in the San Joaquin River watershed as well as the Tulare Basin index – precipitation is 71% of average.Last year the Tulare Basin precipitation index recorded more double the inches of rain for the same date.

Farm income expected to fall 25% in 2024

Largest Decline in U.S. Farm Income

USDA and farm economists are predicting lower prices for many important farm commodities from corn to cattle, milk and even eggs in this new year.While these lower prices may be bad news for farmers, it could help decrease inflationary prices at the grocery store for consumers.

On February 7 the USDA reported that US farm sector income is forecast to continue to fall in 2024 after reaching record highs in 2022. Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, reached $185.5 billion in 2022 After decreasing by $29.7 billion (16.0 percent) from 2022 to a forecast $155.9 billion in 2023, net farm income in 2024 is forecast to decrease further from the 2023 level by $39.8 billion (25.5 percent) to $116.1 billion. That would be a two-year decline of around 40% in farm profits although farm income climbed to highest level in history in 2022.Farm income was $94 billion in 2020 and 2022 at $185 billion was highest ever and double that 2020 number. So volatility is the by-word.

In 2024, corn receipts are expected to fall by $11.3 billion (14.3 percent), as lower forecasted prices should outweigh higher quantities sold in 2024.

A year ago corn was trading near $700 a bushel – but as of February 12,2024 the key food and feed commodity is down to $429 and according to forecasters,expected to continue this downward price trend.

Here is the outlook from market watcher Trading Economics.

Outlook for corn? Heading lower

Corn decreased 41.73 USd/BU or 8.85% since the beginning of 2024, according to trading on a contract that tracks the benchmark market for this commodity.

Corn is expected to trade at 418.70 USd/BU by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, they estimate it to trade at 385.47 in 12 months time.

Most of the US corn crop is used domestically as the main energy ingredient in livestock feed, and for fuel ethanol production mixed with gasoline at your local fueling station.Corn is also processed into a multitude of food and industrial products including starch, sweeteners, corn oil, and beverage and industrial alcohols.

Most other grains are also expected to fall this year says this month’s USDA report.

Lower prices in 2024 should also outweigh growth in quantities sold for soybean receipts, which are forecast to decrease by $6.0 billion (10.3 percent). Cotton receipts are projected to increase by $0.1 billion (1.6 percent) due to higher quantities sold. Wheat receipts are forecast to decrease $0.1 billion (0.5 percent), as lower prices will outweigh higher quantities sold.

Receipts for hay are projected to fall by $0.8 billion (8.3 percent).

Vegetable and melon cash receipts are expected to fall $30 million (0.1 percent) in 2024 while receipts for fruits and nuts are expected to increase $0.8 billion (2.8 percent) during the year.

Total animal/animal product receipts are projected to decrease by $4.6 billion (1.9 percent) to $239.8 billion in 2024. Receipts for eggs, turkeys, cattle/calves and milk are forecast to fall relative to 2023.

While receipts for most major animal/animal products are projected to fall, receipts for hogs and broilers are expected to remain relatively unchanged.

Still profits in the pork industry are down says a story in the Wall St Journal the month.”We’re Not Eating Enough Bacon, and That’s a Problem for the Economy.” Farmers lost an average of $30 a pig last year according to estimates from Iowa State University “the American pork industry has a problem: it makes more tenderloin, ham, sausage, and bacon than anybody wants to eat. “

From giant processors to the farmers who supply them, they are in a predicament largely of their own making. They made production so efficient that demand can’t keep up with supply.”

Lower milk receipts

USDA also has bad news for dairymen too.Milk receipts are expected to decrease $0.9 billion (2.0 percent) in 2024 due to lower prices.

Cash receipts from cattle and calves are expected to decrease $1.6 billion (1.6 percent), as falling quantities sold should outpace growth in prices.

Turkey prices set to fall

Broiler receipts are expected to increase $0.7 billion (1.6 percent) in 2024, due to higher prices and quantities sold. This nominal increase is a decrease in real terms. Falling prices should drive receipts for turkeys $1.4 billion (21.0 percent) lower during the year.

Lower egg prices too

Cash receipts for chicken eggs are expected to decrease $1.7 billion (12.0 percent) in 2024, also due to a lower price forecast. California egg prices are dropping right now, following the trend line seen last year going into spring.

Inflation preview

We got a preview this week with release of January inflation data.For a while food prices increased by more than 10% a year but now prices for food purchased at grocery stores is about 1.2% higher than a year ago. Food purchased at restaurants is 5.1% more expensive than this time in 2023.

Some common grocery staples – milk, coffee, seafood and butter were cheaper this January compared to last January.

Energy costs also were 4.6% less to start 2024 than at the start of 2023 and gasoline is 6.6% cheaper than a year ago.

A Congressional report suggested legislators must work on a new Farm Bill to help the ag economy highlighting the volatility inherent in income and high production costs. They noted that the potential decline in income in 2024 may be the largest on record in nominal terms, and third largest all time when adjusted for inflation.

Tulare offers sales tax sharing of develop Cartmill Ave

Looking to boost investment along the Cartmill & 99 corridor, the City of Tulare is offering incentives to develop on both the north and south side of Cartmill east of the highway.The city would rebate a portion of sales tax revenue once the projects develop.

The incentives are being offered to two developers – south of Cartmill to UG2 Tulare, CA LP where a planned Maverik fueling station is being built , and north of Cartmill to developer Cartmill Commons where up to 10 parcels could house future retail and highway commercial uses.All would be big sales tax generators.

The city will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m., or soon thereafter, on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in the Council Chamber, 491 North M Street.

The names of the beneficiaries of the economic development subsidy are Cartmill Crossings, LLC, 20799 Road 132, Tulare, CA 93274 and UG2 Tulare, CA LP, 1000 Fourth Street, Suite 290, San Rafael, CA 94901.

Gas line needed

The proposed subsidy would enable the construction of a gas line, anticipated to commence on or before March 1, 2024 and take approximately six months to complete. However, no financial subsidies shall be paid to applicants until confirmation from the City of Tulare’s sales tax reporting consultant of revenue received on the properties benefitting from the new infrastructure installation.

Payment shall continue on an annual basis until payments have reached a value of $200,000 each to Cartmill Crossings, LLC and UG2 Tulare, CA LP.

The City will make annual sales tax sharing subsidy payments to the property owners in the amount of 50% of the sales tax generated from the new retail/commercial uses located on the subject properties.Projected tax revenue to the local agency as a result of the economic development subsidy.

Furthest along is a project to build a Maverik gas station on land owned by UG2 Tulare.

Estimated total gross sales per operational statement of Maverik, Inc. dated May 10, 2023: $20-30million in fuel and convenience store sales. Estimated return in sales tax: Approximately $2,000,000-$3,000,000/year.

The city estimates total sales tax generation to Tulare based upon ancillary uses on approximately 16 acres commercially zoned property within the City of Tulare: $1,500,000-$2,000,000/annually.

Navy renews plan for energy project on NAS Lemoore farmland

It’s back and it could be big. The US Navy has dusted off plans that have been shelved for the past 10 years, offering to lease 11,000 acres of farmland surrounding the NAS Lemoore base for energy production.In a release made public Feb 12, the Navy says it is taking this first step in the process by issuing a” Request for Interest (“RFI”) seeking information from interested parties on a potential long-term lease for commercial development and operation of critical energy resiliency infrastructure and/or water utility options on 11,000 +/- acres of underutilized, non-excess agriculture land.”

The Navy says they want to look at energy and/or water development opportunities that “will help mitigate threats posed by wildfires and other natural disasters, climate change, water supply shortages, bird air strikes, an unreliable electric grid, as well as cyber and kinetic attacks.”

What is the goal? Like all US military bases, the Navy wants to improve “Energy Security solutions that mitigate the effects of supply disruptions on mission essential functions.”

What’s the worry? Grid blackout caused by a slew of dangers from cyber attacks, strong storms, extreme heat or wildfire that can shut down power that the base depends on or water disruptions brought on by extreme weather – both drought and floods that could pose an actual national security issue that would be out of the military’s control.

The Navy says they do not want to pay a developer for power generated or water improvements but if a project is built, they want to receive “an uninterrupted supply of energy and water necessary” as a (IKC) in-kind-consideration – to carry on with base operations despite any crisis.The developer could offer the power for sale on the market as the incentive to make what will be a major investment.

If the base is potentially vulnerable, it also offers an opportunity to develop both on-base power and water improvements. The notice points out that the base is near critical California electric grid infrastructure and offers geographical features, flat land with sufficient sun and wind, that could support additional energy infrastructure and/or water utility development.

Industry Day Feb 29

The government will be offering an Industry Day on Thursday, February 29, 2024 that will provide all interested entities an opportunity to participate in a site tour to view and walk portions of the proposed leased premises.

“NAS Lemoore is host to approximately 20,000 acres of federally owned rural agricultural land. The secure operational and administrative areas are surrounded by 11,000 acres of prolific agriculture lands with more than 10,000 acres out-leased for agricultural production. The active cultivation of these farming operations have been critical in reducing bird air strikes, as the periodic discing and turning of soil reduces the bird population by frustrating the ground prey base. However, the farming operations are water intensive.”

Therefore, the notice says ”any development ideas in response to this RFI must support the installation’s mission activities and positively contribute to the energy and water goals.”

This is not the first time the US Navy has considered a solar project on their ag land here. A solar energy project at Naval Air Station Lemoore that was “first announced in 2015 is still moving forward,” according to NAVFAC Southwest Energy, it was reported last year.At that time the Navy was working with an Arizona utility affiliate to build a project. Now they have apparently opened the bidding to other developers.

Our past reporting noted “The idea is to ensure the base can operate even if faced with loss of power from the grid. Emergencies like wildfires in California have put portions of the state at risk of going dark with PG&E impacted.”

Notice that this time the Navy has added water resiliency as well as power projects. The base is surrounded by Westland Water District who just announced an expansion of solar projects on their land.They explain that California has set its sights on 100% clean energy.“By 2045, and the Central Valley will play a vital role in getting there. The same Mediterranean climate that make Westlands an ideal farming location, make it well-suited for solar. As water supplies have become more unreliable, farmers have turned to solar development as an alternative use for the land.”

The Navy request offers the possibility to use up to 11,000 acres – what could be a huge solar farm next to the base, possibly one of the largest in the US. Consider that nearby the Westland Solar Park that includes 12 large solar array facilities will, when built out, sprawl over 20,000 acres producing 2700 MW of power.

The Kings County Assessor says the value of big solar projects in the county as of June 2023 was $142.5 million. Even though this potential project would be on federal lands, the lease of the acreage would be taxed.

Besides a big solar farm with battery storage the Navy suggests other ideas.

– Microgrid solution that can help improve energy and/or water efficiency.

Backup power solutions for critical facilities
Upgrades to aging electrical distribution infrastructure
Replacement of legacy electrical equipment (transformers, switchgear, etc.)
Upgrades to water distribution infrastructure, pre/post storage tanks, pump stations or other supporting infrastructure
-Maximize water conservation through activities that positively impact groundwater recharge, stormwater retention, and sustainable land management
Reclamation water “purple pipe” study and design
Xeriscape designs or material

– Energy facility upgrade improvements

– Investing in a Wastewater Treatment Plant

– A&E study Desalinization Plant

Morro Bay Community Development Director heads to Pismo

February 20 planning meeting to address power plant masterplan

After nine years with the city, Morro Bay Community Development, Director Scot Graham is pulling up stakes and taking a similar position in Pismo Beach this month.Graham who lives in Santa Maria, says his commute to work will now be a lot easier.

Graham guided the city’s General Plan through extensive community forums to final approval.He has overseen a number of other development projects in town to fruition including the new senior housing project on Hwy 41, the new Scout Coffee store project about to open and a round-about at Main and Highway 41 in the planning stage.

More recently he has been active in negotiations with plans to construct a battery storage facility (BESS) at the mothballed Morro Bay Power plant site. In addition, he has been in early talks with wind power companies looking tot locate offshore wind turbines 25 to 30 miles off shore that will connect to the Morro Bay PG&E substation.

Both potential renewable energy projects face community opposition from citizens who have qualified a voter initiative on the November ballot to stop the BESS.

Regards the BESS, the city Planning Commission will hold public meeting Feb 20 to go over ideas to masterplan the 100 plus acre site adjacent the Embarcadero that would be cleared if the project moves forward. Owner Vistra Inc has said they would remove the three 400-foot stacks and vacant concrete power plant to allow future uses for 80 percent of the cleared land with the BESS buildings on the north end. In addition a plan full EIR on the project is expected to be the subject of a public hearing in May or June, he says.

Graham says he will likely not make the Feb 20 meeting since he will be on his new assignment for the City of Pismo Beach.

Graham previously served the City of Pismo Beach in various roles, including senior planner from 1999 to 2014, and officials say they are glad to have him back.

Los Osos lobbies to secure former school property

The unincorporated community of Los Osos is lobbying the county Board of Supervisors to act to secure the former Sunnyside school property on LOVR as a potential site for a number of community uses.

The former school, across from Los Osos Community Park, is owned by San Luis Coastal School District, who has indicated a willingness to sell. The Board of Supervisors, after hearing from several community groups, is expected to consider purchase of the property at the end of this month.

A letter sent recently to the Board from Chair of the Los Osos Community Advisory Council (LOCAC) Trish Bartel and the entire council, advises “LOCAC has an enormous interest in utilizing this site for park and recreation activities in Los Osos/Baywood. As you are aware Los Osos/Baywood has the smallest percentage of parks in SLO County per population. The residents of Los Osos/Baywood paid over $26 million in taxes in 2022/2023. We are asking that a portion of those dollars be used to purchase the school site for Los Osos/Baywood active recreational needs.”

Ideas for the Sunnyside school site that have surfaced include

-Dog Park

-Pickleball courts

-Community gardens (purple water available on site)

-Inclusive playground

-Sport fields

-Community events in the Auditorium (site is connected to the sewer)

In addition, Sunnyside school could take on the role of a County Government Center. Some potential ideas are:

-Moving Sheriff operations from 10th Street

-County Health

-Library alternative site

-Cal Fire

Community activist Linde Owen comments that” Sunnyside is the best expansion of community parks and activities that will never be available later. Past vision from a couple of us was called Sunnyside Up! So many possibilities, positive places for community involvement.”

Almost ten years ago, the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) took up the idea noting that the city of 14,000 is woefully short on park space.Today the notion to use the 5-acre open space continues to bubble. CSD General Manager Ron Munds adds that that “this issue is still on the front burner today.”

Locals are calling for a community forum to discuss alternative plans once the Supervisors make up their mind.

Sunnyside has a long history in Los Osos starting as a one-room school house. A news report remembers the it was originally called Sand Hill School because the area was nothing but sand. The Sand Hill name was changed and it became Sunny Side School District in 1891. The district closed Sunnyside as an elementary school site in 2004 due to lack of population growth.

Visalia Mental Health Clinic to get pharmacy

National pharmacy provider, Genoa Health Care company will open a walk-up pharmacy at the Visalia Integrated Mental Health Clinic on Tulare Avenue this summer.

Genoa partners with community-based providers, health plans and others as part of a coordinated care team. Genoa specializes in care of patient with behavioral health issues, often with complex health conditions.

The company says they are “dedicated to serving the needs of those in the behavioral health and substance use disorder communities, and others who have complex, chronic health conditions, Genoa is the largest provider of behavioral health pharmacy and clinical services for individuals with behavioral health and other complex, chronic health conditions in the U.S.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Genoa serves over one million individuals annually across the United States.

This would be the first location in Tulare County although they do have a location in Hanford partnering with Kingsview.

Tulare County Mental Health spokesperson Carrie Monteiro says the hope is that the on-site dispensary “can reduce the barriers” for patients who may face problems in getting their care. She says the new pharmacy, under construction now, should open by July.

The Visalia Adult Integrated Clinic is open 40 hours weekly with some 20 physicians offering 13 specialties.

Tulare County owns the large building there -the former Fairway Market location.

Tulare County Mental Health offers Crisis Response Psychiatric Emergency Team

Psychiatric Emergency Team (PET) 24/7

520 E. Tulare Avenue

Visalia, CA 93277

(559) 730-9922 or 1-800-320-1616

At any time, you can call a crisis counselor who will assist you with your emergency. This is a toll- free, 24-hour access line with the ability to assist you in your preferred language.

Visit the Adult Mental Health Visalia Adult Integrated Clinic

520 E. Tulare Avenue

Visalia, CA 93277

(559) 623-0900

Mon – Fri 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m