Draft CEC Cropland Index Model High Category for 2026-2027 IRP

For the 26-27 IRP, CEC updated the input datasets to the model to use the most recent available versions of the input data, leaving the transformation scale, weights and determination of the area of analysis identical to the previous version.  The variables used in the CEC Cropland Index Model contain information on soil quality (CA Revised Storie Index, Electrical Conductivity, and Sodium Adsorption Ratio), farmland designations (Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance), and current existence of crops (as indicated by the California Statewide Crop Mapping). The CEC Cropland Index Model does not include statewide information for grazing lands or rangelands, and it is only applied to solar technology.   More information about this layer and its use in electric system planning is found in the CEC presentation from the August 19 webinar, as well as the 2023 Land Use Screens Staff Report in the CEC Energy Planning Library.