Non-Lithium LDES Technical Support
Summary
SCH Number
2023030533
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Non-Lithium LDES Technical Support
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
3/21/2023
Document Description
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is seeking to promote non-lithium long duration energy storage (NLLDES) to reduce the strain on energy infrastructure, to increase energy capacity, and to make energy supply more resilient. Additionally, the state approved the Long Duration Energy Storage program as part of the FY 2022/2023 approved state budget and awarded the CEC $140M for this year and approved an award of $140M for FY 2023/2024 contingent on the approved budget. These funds are to be used to demonstrate emerging NLLDES technologies and assist in the transition to commercial status of these non-lithium-ion technologies. The purpose of this contract is to assist CEC staff in three areas: (1) preparing and issuing grants for the development of NLLDES projects; (2) preparing grant applications seeking to obtain Department of Energy (DOE) grants to fund additional NLLDES projects; and (3) preparing miscellaneous technical studies, assessments, and providing other support services in connection with NLLDES.
Contact Information
Name
Kevin Mallon
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Energy Commission Specialist I
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Sacramento
Counties
Sacramento
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Folsom Blvd and Watt Ave
Zip
95826
State Highways
50
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
The project meets the Categorical Exemption 14 CCR 15306 in that all activities consist of basic data collection, research, and resource evaluation activities and do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource.
This project consists of information gathering, report preparation, and other computer-based technical support for the LDES program leading to actions which a public agency has not yet approved, adopted or funded. This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Common Sense Exemption. Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The activity is covered by the Common Sense Exemption in that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a signification effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Here the project involves preliminary activities such as providing reviews of LDES projects, preparing technology assessment reports, and supporting the preparation, evaluation, and management of grant funding opportunities. The project also includes preparation of US Department of Energy applications and preparation of other miscellaneous support studies.
The project does not involve any physical impacts since all work will be conducted on computers. Agreement tasks do include providing preliminary CEQA project assessments and environmental impact analyses for potential future NLLDES projects, but the project does not commit to funding any of the recommendations flowing from the agreement. Any potential locations of future storage would require compliance with CEQA before the CEC could fund said future projects.
County Clerk
Sacramento
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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