Rincon Long Duration Multi-Storage Solar Microgrid

Rincon Long Duration Multi-Storage Solar Microgrid

The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians is a federally-recognized Native American Tribe. The project will take place entirely on land that is self-governed by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians. The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians conducted an Environmental Evaluation Addendum to the Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort pursuant to Tribal Environmental Policy Ordinance under Section 8.400 of the Rincon Tribal Code, which requires a detailed report on the environmental impacts of the proposed action that is in substantial compliance with the requirements set out in the National Environmental Policy Act. The purpose of this project is to install and operate a renewable energy microgrid system that reduces electricity consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ensures reliability, and reduces operating costs at the Harrah's Rincon Casino and the Rincon Reservation located in the City of Valley Center, California. The project will occur within the existing developed area of the Rincon Reservation and is located within the central portion of the reservation. The microgrid system consists of a 2 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) carport system, a 4.8 megawatt-hour (MWh) flywheel energy storage system (ESS), and a 4.8 MWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) ESS with electrical infrastructure upgrades and microgrid controls. Both ESS technologies can support up to 12 hours each (24 hours combined) of islanded off-grid operation. Existing electrical infrastructure at the casino and resort, wastewater treatment plant, gas station and convenience store, office storage building, and 1 MW solar field will be modified to integrate the new energy systems. The solar PV carport system will involve installation of steel carport structures mounted on new concrete pilings within an existing parking lot for a total installed area of approximately 6.75 acres. The carport structures will be approximately 20 feet tall. Solar PV arrays will be mounted on top of the carport structures. Any potential glare from the installation of the solar PV carport structures will be minimal and similar to the existing solar facilities currently onsite. The flywheel ESS will involve the installation of 150 flywheel containment units. Flywheel containment units will be placed between solar arrays within existing ground-mounted solar fields that are located north of the solar PV carport system. Each flywheel unit is 5 feet by 10 inches in diameter and will be installed approximately 6 feet deep into the ground. The flywheel ESS will not be visible from on or off-reservation vantage points because all containment units will be buried between solar arrays within an existing solar field. The VRFB ESS will be installed next to the existing solar fields on a new concrete pad that will be approximately 1,165 square feet. The VRFB units measure 8 feet tall and may be stacked for a maximum height of 16 feet. The VRFB ESS will be located within the same parcel as the existing solar fields (APN 133-270-1500). The solar PV carport system, flywheel ESS, and VRFB ESS will be wired through 1,600 feet of underground conduit and connected to a microgrid controller. All trenching will occur entirely within previously disturbed and developed areas. These three systems will enable the facility to operate essential components in case of a power outage. The project will take place entirely within the existing casino and reservation boundary and all materials will be installed outdoors. The project will require 30 to 60 construction workers and will take approximately one year to complete. During construction the project will require a total of 155 truck trips for material deliveries and 1,500 construction worker trips. A construction parking and staging area will be provided on site within an existing storage lot, located Authority cited: Sections 21083 and 21110, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 21108, 21152, and 21152.1, Public Resources Code. CEQA Notice of Exemption Page 2 of 3 EPC-19-050 Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians adjacent to the AC solar PV carport system (APN 133-180-1400). The VRFB ESS and flywheel ESS work area will be accessed by West Tribal Road, while access to the solar PV carport system and parking and staging area will be provided by Arviso Road. Any new sources of air emissions resulting from the construction of the project would be temporary and intermittent in nature and would not significantly affect onsite or offsite air quality. Stormwater collected from surface runoff would be managed with the current stormwater infrastructure in place and in accordance with current federal stormwater management practices. Furthermore, best management practices (BMPs) (such as a dust suppression and stormwater pollution prevention plans) used during construction and operation of the casino and resort project would also be used during the installation and operation of the solar PV carport system and flywheel and VRFB ESS. Therefore, no adverse effects to off-site water or air quality would occur as a result of the proposed project. The nearest off-reservation residences are located 1.2 miles to the north of the project site and 1.5 miles to the west of the site. Views from these vantage points are minimal due to the hilly topography and vegetation. Valley Center Road runs north-south along the western boundary of the project and is designated as a third priority County Scenic Highway in the County of San Diego General Plan. The speed limit along this road is 55 miles per hour. Motorists traveling along Center Valley Road do not have long-distance views from the south because a curve in the roadway results in the site being shielded by steep hills. There is limited long distance views from the north, which are obstructed in places by land form and vegetation barriers. Due to the high travel speeds of motorists, views of the solar PV carport system and VRFB ESS from passing cars traveling north or south along Center Valley Road will be brief. The installation of the solar PV carport system, flywheel ESS, and VRFB ESS will not significantly change off-reservation visual resources as these systems are not visually obtrusive and are similar to those currently onsite. Installation of the three systems is expected to reduce the Rincon community's GHG emissions by 1,004,898 kilograms of carbon dioxide during its first year of operation. Additionally, the project will reduce the Rincon community's electricity costs by $625,366 during the first year of operation and $26 million dollars over the project's expected 25-year lifetime. The Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians applied for a grant from the California Energy Commission to build the project, which is consistent with the California Energy Commission's mission of leading the state to a 100 percent clean energy future.

Valley Center

San Diego

Southern California