Spreckels Sugar Company Solar Microgrid Project
Summary
SCH Number
2020060222
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Spreckels Sugar Company Solar Microgrid Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/11/2020
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to install a microgrid technology system powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at the Spreckels Sugar Company sugar beet processing plant. The microgrid system will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by offsetting the majority of the facility’s use of electrical grid power with on-site generation of 100 percent renewable energy. The system will include an advanced control and communications system, including an energy storage system for emergency power backup. The installation will consist of three main parts: 1) ground-mounted, fixed-tilt, PV solar panel arrays on two adjacent areas within the Spreckels Sugar Company industrial property, 2) interconnection power line running from the PV system switchgear via new trenched conduit and an existing overhead line to the interconnection point at the facility, and 3) energy storage system with control and communications equipment. The two PV arrays will cover a total of approximately 2.4 acres of unpaved, flat, disturbed, disused land within the 160-acre main industrial facility complex. The energy storage system requires two Tesla Powerpack units rated at 110 kilowatts and 440 kilowatt hours (kWh) for a total of approximately 880 kWh of energy storage. The energy storage system enclosure requires a footprint of approximately 40 square feet; the enclosure will be placed on the concrete pad of an existing covered storage area. The project will reduce the plant’s GHG emissions by more than 500 metric tons per year (estimated total during the system’s 30-year lifetime of over 15,000 tons). Energy and fuel cost savings will total an estimated $9,216,774 over the 30-year lifetime. Renewable energy generation will total at least 70,000,000 kWh. The project is consistent with the California Energy Commission’s mission of leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future.
Contact Information
Name
Hannah Craig
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Spreckels Sugar Company, Inc.
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Brawley
Counties
Imperial
Other Location Info
395 West Keystone Road
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit 14, §§ 15303 (Class 3) and 15311 (Class 11)
Reasons for Exemption
The ground-mounted PV arrays will be installed on approximately 2.4 acres of disused land within the Spreckels Sugar Company existing industrial property. The area where the PV arrays will be installed is a few hundred feet south of the main industrial complex of buildings and other structures. Imperial County will require the applicant to satisfy its requirements to obtain a ministerial building permit for the proposed installation; there is no requirement for a local discretionary permit for this project.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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