The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Monday approved the Soda Mountain Solar and Battery Storage Project. This approval was made possible through its Opt-In Certification program. This program was created to help speed up clean energy permitting and deployment across the state. Also, the project will join others such as Edwards and Sanborn Solar and Battery Storage in Kern County in boosting California’s green energy transition.

Soda Mountain Solar, LLC, is a subsidiary of VC Renewables. The firm will build and operate a combined solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS). Additionally, the project will be located on approximately 2,670 acres of land. This land will be administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) California Desert District. It will be located in San Bernardino County, contingent on BLM approval.

Cost

The project will cost approximately $700 million. Also, upon completion the project will generate up to 300MW of renewable energy from a utility-scale solar PV array. Also, it will include up to 300 MW of battery storage capable of storing 1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy. This will strengthen statewide grid reliability and help California move closer to achieving its clean energy and climate goals.

Job Creation

Also, the project is expected to create approximately 200 construction jobs and up to 40 part-time operations jobs. Additionally, it will generate additional jobs as needed to conduct routine inspections, maintenance, and security along with millions of dollars in local economic activity and tax revenue to support public services in San Bernardino County.

About the Community Benefits Agreement

Additionally, the project includes a community benefits agreement that commits the developer to pay $50,000 to Friends of El Mirage Friends of El Mirage are a local nonprofit that supports outdoor recreation and public land stewardship in San Bernardino County. Also, the funding will pay for improvements to amenities at the Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area.

“This project doesn’t solely deliver clean, reliable energy, it brings jobs and meaningful economic investment to the region,” said CEC Commissioner Noemi Gallardo. “ Furthermore, we are committed to seeing that the benefits of California’s energy transition are felt locally, in the communities where these projects are built.”

“ Furthermore, the Opt-In Certification program is designed to accelerate the development of critical clean energy infrastructure without compromising California’s rigorous environmental protections or commitment to meaningful community engagement,” said CEC Chair David Hochschild. “ Additionally, today’s approval shows we can move projects forward with urgency and efficiency while preserving the values that matter most to Californians.”

Also, Soda Mountain is the second renewable energy project approved through the Opt-In Certification Program. Authorized under Assembly Bill 205, the Opt-In Certification Program provides a consolidated state permitting option for eligible clean energy projects, supporting California’s transition to 100 percent zero-carbon retail electric sales by 2045, as required by Senate Bill 100.

Project Factsheet

Developer: Soda Mountain Solar, LLC (a subsidiary of VC Renewables).

Location: Approximately 2,670 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), situated 6 miles southwest of Baker, CA, and adjacent to the Mojave National Preserve.

Capacity: Solar: 300 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy.

Storage: 300 MW / 1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS).

Cost: Estimated at nearly $700 million.

Interconnection: A 1-mile, 500-kilovolt (kV) generation-intertie line connecting to the existing Mead-Adelanto transmission line.

BESS Technology: Lithium-ion (or similar) batteries designed to stabilize the grid and store power for peak demand.