- Project Owner
- IP Perkins, LLC & IP Perkins BAAH, LLC
- Docket Number
- 24-OPT-01
- Capacity
- 1,150 megawatts
- Location
- Imperial County
- Technology
- Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
- Project Status
- Under Review
- Project Type
- Opt-in
IP Perkins, LLC, IP Perkins BAAH, LLC, and related affiliates (collectively, "Applicant"), subsidiaries of Intersect Power, LLC propose to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the Perkins Renewable Energy Project (project), an approximately 1,150-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage facility on United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) administered public lands, and private lands in Imperial County east of El Centro, California.
The project would generate and store renewable electricity via arrays of solar PV panels, a battery energy storage system (BESS), and appurtenant facilities. The final project capacity would be based on optimization of buildable acreage and solar PV technology at the time of procurement. The project would construct a new gen-tie line that would connect the project substation to a new high-voltage breaker and a half switchyard. The gen-tie would be approximately 200 feet or 1.3 miles in length depending on the two optional locations of the substation. From the switchyard, two new 500 kilovolt (kV) loop-in transmission lines would be constructed to interconnect to the existing San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) 500 kV Southwest Power Link Transmission Line that travels east-west just south of the project site.
Depending upon the timeline of the interconnection agreement, if approved by the CEC the project could be operational by as early as late 2027. The project could operate for up to 50 or more years. The proposed project solar development area includes the following lands:
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approximately 4,708 acres of BLM-administered public land for the solar facility, including solar PV panels, inverters/transformers, medium voltage lines, substation, BESS, and O&M areas,
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approximately 515 acres on private lands for the solar PV panel, inverter/transformer, and medium voltage line installation,
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approximately 828 acres on BOR lands for the solar PV panel installation, inverter/transformer, and medium voltage line installation, and
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approximately75 acres of additional disturbance on BLM and BOR lands for the switchyard and two 500 kV loop-in transmission lines to connect to the existing SDG&E 500 kV transmission line.
Opt-In Certification
Prior to the June 30, 2022, signing of Assembly Bill (AB) 205, the CEC’s powerplant licensing jurisdiction was limited to thermal powerplants 50 megawatts (MW) or larger. To accelerate the state’s transition to renewable energy and to maintain electrical system reliability under this transition and during extreme climate-change-driven events, AB 205, as modified by AB 209 expands the types of facilities that can be certified by the CEC. This “Opt-in” certification process is available to solar photovoltaic and terrestrial wind energy powerplants of 50 MW or more, energy storage facilities of 200 megawatt-hours (MWh) or more, the electric transmission lines from these facilities to the first point of interconnection, and facilities that manufacture or assemble clean energy or storage technologies or their components with a capital investment of at least $250 million. In addition, thermal powerplants of 50 MW or more that do not use fossil or nuclear fuels may choose the Opt-in process rather than the CEC’s Application for Certification process. AB 205 authorizes the CEC to accept applications for these facilities and provides a new, streamlined process for their review and a decision by the CEC. The CEC is the “lead agency” under the California Environmental Quality Act and is required to prepare an environmental impact report for any facility that elects to opt-in to the CEC’s jurisdiction. With exceptions, the issuance of a certificate by the CEC for an eligible facility is in lieu of any permit, certificate, or similar document required by any state, local, or regional agency, or federal agency to the extent permitted by federal law, and supersedes any applicable statute, ordinance, or regulation of any state, local, or regional agency, or federal agency to the extent permitted by federal law. The CEC’s authority under the opt-in certification program does not supersede the authority of the California State Lands Commission to require leases and receive lease revenues, if applicable, or the authority of the California Coastal Commission, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the State Water Resources Control Board or applicable regional water quality control board, or, in the case of manufacturing facilities, the applicable local air quality management district or the Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Contacts
Project Manager
Lisa Worrall
STEPsiting@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-661-8367
Public Participation Questions
Public Advisor
publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov
916-269-9595
Media Inquiries
Media & Public Communications Office
mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov
916-654-4989