Sapphire Solar Project

Sapphire Solar Project

EDF Renewables Development Inc. (EDFR) on behalf of Sapphire Solar, LLC (“Applicant”) proposes to entitle, construct, operate, maintain, and decommission the Project. The Project would include a utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) electrical generating and storage facility and associated infrastructure to generate and deliver renewable electricity to the statewide electricity transmission grid. The proposed Project would generate and store up to 117 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity via arrays of solar PV panels, battery energy storage system (BESS), and appurtenant facilities. As previously stated, the Project would include a 230-kV gen-tie line, access roads, and collector line routes, collectively referred to as “Linear Facility Routes.” The Linear Facility Routes are located on federal public lands administered by BLM and designed to support the proposed Project, which is located on adjacent private lands. Each of the three 200-foot wide Linear Facility Routes has been included to provide flexibility as it relates to potential California Independent System Operator (CAISO) interconnection options and County Fire Department emergency access requirements. Refer to Figures 1 through 3 for locations of the three Linear Facility Routes. The locations and lengths of the three potential Linear Facility Routes are as follows: Linear Facility Route #1 is approximately 1.6 miles long and located along the top northwest corner of the Project site, Linear Facility Route #2 is approximately 1.6 miles long and located toward the northwest corner of the Project site (south of Linear Facility Route #1), and Linear Facility Route #3 is approximately 1.4 miles long and located along the east side of the Project site. The Project is anticipated to be online in late 2025. The Applicant is seeking a minimum 39-year Conditional Use Permit (CUP) (CUP 220035) for the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the proposed solar facility, as well as a Public Use Permit (PUP) (PUP 220002) for portions of the Project that would traverse County Roads (State Route 177/Rice Road or Kaiser Road). The Applicant is also seeking cancellation of Williamson Act contracts within the Project site, which will be considered as part of the Project’s permitting process. The Applicant is also seeking to vacate roadways dedicated to the public but not accepted by the County that traverse the internal portions of the Project. Roads along the Project perimeter on the outside of the solar facility would remain dedicated public access as applicable. Ancillary permits, including encroachment permits, grading and construction permits, and certificates of occupancy, are anticipated from the County. These permits and approvals are local ministerial actions that will follow California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance.

Desert Center

Riverside

Countywide

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy (CVMC), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Inland Deserts Region 6 (CDFW), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 8 (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Aeronautics (DOT), California Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Planning (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Highway Patrol (CHP), California Natural Resources Agency, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin Region 7 (RWQCB), California State Lands Commission (SLC), Department of Toxic Substances Control, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC)

Power:Solar (Megawatts 117)

Use Permit

Aesthetics, Agriculture and Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Cumulative Effects, Drainage/Absorption, Flood Plain/Flooding, Geology/Soils, Growth Inducement, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Mineral Resources, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services, Recreation, Schools/Universities, Septic System, Sewer Capacity, Solid Waste, Transportation, Vegetation, Wetland/Riparian, Wildfire