Nearly 500 organizations, individuals cite concerns that project may jeopardize future of events like Hangtown Motocross, others
Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area, the rolling expanse of dirt trails and open land just south of Highway 50, is facing a pivotal crossroads. A proposed utility-scale solar project along its boundary has ignited fierce opposition from riders, residents, conservationists, and economic advocates who warn it could compromise one of Northern California’s most important recreation hubs and undermine a cornerstone of Folsom and Rancho Cordova’s tourism economy.
The proposal, known as the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch, remains under review and has not been approved. It is being planned for Barton Ranch in Sacramento County’s Cosumnes community, south of U.S. 50, northwest of Rancho Murieta, southeast of Prairie City SVRA, and near White Rock Road.
The project is being advanced by Sacramento Valley Energy Center, LLC, with landowner William Risse serving as the property contact. Development is tied to D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a national energy development firm that hosted a community meeting in Wilton on August 28 to present its plans directly to OHV and conservation groups. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District would take delivery of electricity via a new 230-kilovolt connection. Sacramento County’s Planning Department is overseeing the CEQA process and permitting, with input from the Agricultural Advisory Committee, Design Review Advisory Committee, and the Sacramento County Planning Commission. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will make the final land-use decision, while the California OHMVR Commission is monitoring impacts given the park’s state-designated recreation status.
The project spans roughly 2,704 acres, with about 1,412 acres set aside for solar and battery development and another 1,292 acres reserved for grazing and habitat uses. Plans call for a 200-megawatt alternating current photovoltaic solar energy system paired with a 100-megawatt, four-hour battery energy storage system. The storage site would span about 3.7 acres, using modular container-style units built to NFPA 855 safety standards. Supporting infrastructure includes a substation, inverters, fencing, internal roads, SCADA monitoring systems, and a 1.3-mile 230-kilovolt transmission line running along Prairie City’s border, as well as a new switchyard interconnecting with SMUD’s power grid.
The proposal presents the project as being agrivoltaic, with plans to continue cattle grazing both inside and outside the fenced solar fields. Enhancements include reseeding forage, installing troughs, upgrading fencing, and creating pollinator-friendly habitat. Supporters argue this model preserves ranching while advancing renewable energy. Critics contend the agricultural features are minimal compared to the scale of industrial development next to a state recreation area.
At the August 28 Wilton meeting, DESRI outlined several proposed mitigation measures intended to respond to concerns raised during the Draft EIR process. The company highlighted ideas to address impacts to public access, scenic vistas, wildlife corridors, oak woodlands, well water supply, and park operations. Opponents remain unconvinced, noting that the Draft EIR itself labeled scenic impacts to Prairie City as “significant and unavoidable.”
The proposal requires multiple approvals: a Use Permit for the solar and battery systems, a Special Development Permit allowing zero setbacks and dirt roadways instead of gravel, and Design Review compliance. The CEQA review is underway. A Draft Environmental Impact Report was released earlier this year, opening a 45-day public comment period that was extended through May 5, 2025. The Agricultural Advisory Committee endorsed the project, and the Design Review Advisory Committee found it in substantial compliance. The Sacramento County Planning Commission has directed staff to prepare a Final EIR after hearing hours of testimony from both sides.
Opponents have also raised broader policy concerns. With similar energy projects being proposed adjacent to other State Parks such as Ocotillo Wells and Heber Dunes SVRAs, some questioned whether the Department of Parks and Recreation is shifting away from its historic strategy of preserving open-space buffers around state parks toward accepting industrial-scale energy facilities as a new form of buffer.
Nearly 500 individuals, organizations, and advocacy groups have now submitted comments, underscoring broad opposition. Their concerns span from local clubs to national associations, from neighborhood groups to conservation organizations. One environmental group representative with decades of CEQA experience called this “the first solar project the conservation community at large has opposed in the state,” describing it as one of the “top one or two worst projects” they had ever reviewed.
The California Four Wheel Drive Association cited the CEQA findings directly. “The DEIR acknowledges that the project will result in significant and unavoidable impacts to the viewshed of Prairie City SVRA,” the group wrote. “These visual impacts would fundamentally change the recreational experience for thousands of off-roaders who use the park.”
The American Motorcyclist Association emphasized Prairie City’s stature in its comments. “Prairie City SVRA is one of the premier OHV facilities in Northern California, serving thousands of riders, families and event participants each year,” the association wrote. “Eliminating or repurposing its land for non-recreational use would be a blow to California’s off-highway vehicle community and the industries that support it.”
Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club, long-time organizers of the Hangtown Motocross Classic, stressed the irreplaceable role Prairie City has played. “Prairie City is the last remaining OHV park in the Sacramento area. It has introduced generations to dirt biking, motocross, and off-road recreation. To compromise this land would mean erasing one of the most important community spaces for riders and families in Northern California.”
Friends of Folsom Parkways tied the issue to community well-being. “The proximity of Prairie City to the American River Parkway and surrounding communities makes it an invaluable open space for both recreation and environmental balance,” the group said. “Introducing industrial-scale development here would diminish not only access but also the quality of life for thousands who use it.”
The River Hills Association added its voice, writing, “Our association strongly opposes any proposal that would diminish Prairie City SVRA. The park is an established recreational asset, and its removal or alteration would undercut both quality of life and regional economic stability.”
Don Amador, former chair of the California OHMVR Commission, criticized both Sacramento County and the developers for failures in process. “I think Sacramento County Planning made a huge mistake by failing to notify the OHMVR Commission about this solar project sited next to Prairie City SVRA per Public Resources Code Section 5090.24 that requires the commission to be fully informed regarding all governmental activities affecting the program,” he said. Amador added that developers failed to reach out to OHV groups during 2021 pre-scoping efforts and the 30-day public scoping period in early 2022, saying the OHV community was only alerted “a few days before the DEIR May 5 public comment deadline.”
Prairie City’s legacy stretches back more than four decades. Established in the late 1970s, it became one of California’s eight State Vehicular Recreation Areas, alongside Hollister Hills, Carnegie, and Oceano Dunes. Today it draws more than 250,000 visits annually, making it one of the busiest SVRAs in the system. Its location, accessible to millions yet expansive enough to host national-caliber events, makes it both unique and irreplaceable. The park has been carefully managed to balance recreation with conservation, preserving grasslands, vernal pools, and wildlife corridors while providing space for motorsport innovation.
The Hangtown Motocross Classic is Prairie City’s crown jewel. First staged in Placerville in the late 1960s, it moved to Prairie City in the 1970s and has since become the oldest continuous stop on the AMA Pro Motocross Championship tour. Each spring, it draws between 20,000 and 25,000 fans, fills hotels in Folsom and Rancho Cordova to capacity, and produces one of the busiest weekends of the year for restaurants and small businesses. Economists estimate the event generates millions of dollars annually, while national broadcasts give Folsom name recognition in motorsports circles worldwide.
“The Hangtown Motocross Classic has brought tens of thousands of fans and athletes to the Sacramento region for decades,” organizers wrote. “If access or land is reduced, the ability to hold this nationally recognized race will be severely compromised.”
Beyond motocross, Prairie City hosts NorCal Rock Racing, karting, four-wheel-drive competitions, and motorcycle training programs, all of which sustain a steady influx of visitors. Tourism and hospitality leaders have warned that a decline in Prairie City’s calendar would have ripple effects throughout the local economy.
For individuals, the stakes are personal. Arick van den Oudenaller, who has spent most of his life at Prairie City, described the park’s influence. “I’ve spent the last 2 decades going to Prairie City SVRA, I learned how to ride a dirtbike there, I attended the Hangtown motocross race there many times, I then found out about Norcal Rock Racing and have been attending that for about 10 years which has led to my love for rock crawling and the outdoors,” he said. “I’ve seen thousands of people and families from all over the US come to Prairie City SVRA for many different events. Also there’s thousands of local motorcyclists, offroaders, jeepers, racers, and go-carting enthusiasts that rely on Prairie City for their passions, along with the industries that support those users.”
The California OHMVR Commission will take up the matter on Thursday, September 4, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge, 820 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding. It is listed on the agenda as an Action Item. The meeting is open to the public both in person and virtually, with registration available via this Zoom link.
“It is important for the OHMVR Commissioners to hear from the greater OHV stakeholder community about their concerns regarding the project’s short and long-term impacts to public access, park operations, and even questions about the SVRA’s future,” said Amador. He added that if the project is eventually withdrawn, “it will be because they failed to do the initial pre-scoping of key stakeholder groups who would have most likely supported the project at a more suitable site away from this deeply treasured State Park unit with its high quality off-road trail and track network, safety training programs, nationally recognized powersports competition events, and scenic views of nearby oak forests and native grasslands.”
For readers who want to review official planning documents, environmental reports, and hearing materials, Sacramento County has posted comprehensive resources at:
https://planning.saccounty.gov/Pages/Coyote-Creek-Agrivoltaic-Ranch.aspx
As the process moves forward, with further hearings and final CEQA review still ahead, opposition is expected to grow. Riders, families, conservationists, local businesses, and national organizations say they are determined to “preserve Prairie City SVRA as not only a recreational facility, but a cultural landmark, an economic driver, and an irreplaceable part of California’s off-highway heritage.”
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