PA-1900132 - Site Approval for battery energy storage system.

2 Documents in Project

Summary

SCH Number
2020090414
Public Agency
San Joaquin County
Document Title
PA-1900132 - Site Approval for battery energy storage system.
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/21/2020
Present Land Use
AU-20 / R/L / Residential care facility
Document Description
Site Approval application for a remotely operated and monitored 25 MW / 100 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) facility located on approximately 2.2 acres of a 4.8-acre parcel in unincorporated San Joaquin County, adjacent to the city of Stockton. The Project will establish an unmanned, 25 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage system facility utilizing 2.2 acres of a 4.8-acre parcel to include 38 storage containers totaling 12,160 square-feet to house battery storage racks for lithium batteries, 1 auxiliary battery storage container, 16 inverters/transformers totaling 1,920 square-feet to convert between AC and DC and to step up the voltage, and 1 site substation totaling 5,940 square-feet. The Project includes accessory equipment including inverters, switchgear, telecommunications equipment, and an approximately 120-square-foot spare parts enclosure; an ancillary project substation; a 15,000-gallon water tank for fire protection; access roads and parking area, pads for battery cabinets and accessory equipment; underground wires and cabling connecting the batteries to the Project substation; and perimeter fencing. The battery cabinets, accessory equipment, water tank, and project substation are non-habitable, small structures with a total footprint of approximately 20,565 square-feet. A new 60 kV generation interconnection transmission line (gen-tie) on a new, approximately 70-foot-high monopole would connect the BESS to PG&E Weber Substation on the adjacent parcel to the west. Fiber optic cables would also be installed underground to provide a telecommunications connection between the Project site and the PG&E facilities. PG&E would also reconductor approximately one-mile of existing 60-kV power line in the city of Stockton near the Project site, replacing existing conductors and replacing wood support poles with light-duty steel poles at a similar heights (40-feet above street level) within the existing alignment.

Contact Information

Name
Giuseppe Sanfilippo
Agency Name
San Joaquin County Community Development Department
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Name
Agency Name
Estrella L. Jose Family, LP / Cascade Energy Storage, LLC
Contact Types
Project Applicant

Location

Cities
Stockton
Counties
San Joaquin
Cross Streets
Carpenter Rd, Pock Rd
Zip
95205
Total Acres
2.2
Parcel #
179-140-18
State Highways
Highway 99
Airports
Stockton Airport
Schools
Stockton Unified School District

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 (§ 15301), Class 2 (§ 15302), Class 3 (§ 15303), and Class 4 (§ 15304)
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15303 exempts the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures and the installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures. The battery cabinets, accessory equipment, water tank, and Project substation are non-habitable, small structures with a total footprint of approximately 20,565 square-feet. While the Section 15303 categorical exemption does not specifically address battery energy storage facilities in the listed examples, the total footprint of the Project is less than the maximum allowable for habitable commercial structures on a legal parcel in an urbanized area (i.e., up to for commercial buildings not exceeding 10,000 square-feet or 40,000 square-feet total). The Project will not involve the use of significant amounts of hazardous substances, all necessary public services and facilities are available, and the Project site and surrounding area are not environmentally sensitive. Section 15303(d) exempts electrical and other utility extensions of reasonable length to serve new, small structures and applies to the gen-tie line connecting the Project substation to the PG&E substation, which would span approximately 100 feet and be mounted on one new approximately 70-foot-tall monopole on the Project site, and fiber optic cables for telecommunications installed underground to connect the Project site to the immediately-adjacent PG&E substation. Section 15303(e) exempts accessory (appurtenant) structures and applies to water storage tanks, electrical equipment, Project substation, and perimeter fencing are all accessory or appurtenant to the primary battery energy storage use. Section 15304 exempts minor alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation, including grading on land with a slope of less than 10 percent pursuant to the example provided in Section 15304(a), and minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored pursuant to Section 15304(f). This exemption applies to the removal of nine non-native trees to allow widening of an access driveway. The trees are located on private property in an urbanized area, along a private access drive, and are not near any designated scenic routes. The trees are not scenic and their removal does not conflict with any applicable zoning or other regulations governing scenic quality. Sections 15301 and 15302 apply to PG&E’s reconductoring of an approximately one-mile segment of existing 60 kV power line located in the city of Stockton near the Project site. Section 15301 exempts the operation, repair, and maintenance of existing structures, facilities, and mechanic equipment where there is negligible or no expansion of use including, pursuant to Section 15301(b), exiting facilities of investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power. Section 15302 exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities located on the same site as the structure replaced and for substantially the same purpose and capacity. The reconductoring consists of replacement of existing conductors and replacement of existing wood support poles with light-duty steel poles within the existing alignment, which generally extends along the southern right-of-way of East Hazelton Avenue between B Street to the east and El Dorado Street/PG&E’s Stockton A Substation to the west. The reconductored transmission line would look substantially similar to the existing transmission line and be mounted on poles at a similar height. It would continue to provide electrical service to the surrounding area with no change in capacity or area served.

Attachments

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