Sapphire Solar Project CUP220035 / PUP220002 / DA2200018 / APD240002 / APD240003

Sapphire Solar Project CUP220035 / PUP220002 / DA2200018 / APD240002 / APD240003

Conditional Use Permit No. 220035 (CUP220035) is a proposal to construct, operate, and maintain, an up to 117 megawatt (MW) solar power plant with an up to 117 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) on approximately 1,082 acres of private lands in unincorporated Riverside County. It would connect with the remainder of the Sapphire Solar on 41 acres of public land under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) federal jurisdiction, which Is subject to separate approvals by BLM. The Project is seeking a 39-year life entitlement. Sapphire's onsite substation would consist of the BESS area, a 3,000 sqft operation & maintenance (O&M) building with 10 parking spaces, associated access roads, and generation-tie (gen-tie) lines. The 1.74 mile 230-kilovolt (kV) gen-tie lines would traverse BLM federal land and connect to existing Desert Harvest gen-tie poles from the Desert Harvest substation, located along Kaiser Road to the west, and transmit to the electrical grid at the SCE Red Bluff Substation. Public Use Permit No. 220002 (PUP220002) would allow gen-ties crossings of roadways under County jurisdiction, including medium voltage collector line crossings of Osborne Avenue and Kaiser Road. Development Agreement No. 2200018 (DA2200018) the applicant has proposed entering into a development agreement (DA2200018) with the County of Riverside for the Project, consistent with the County’s solar power plant program. Board of Supervisors Policy No. B-29 regarding solar power plants states, “No approval required by Ordinance, No. 348 shall be given for a solar power plant unless the Board first approves a development agreement with the solar power plant owner and the development agreement is effective.” County Staff has negotiated terms and provisions with the Applicant, for the Board’s consideration, consistent with Board Policy B-29. The DA has a term of 39 years and will grant the Applicant vesting rights to develop the Project in accordance with the terms of the agreement. Agricultural Preserve Diminishment (APD) Case Nos 240002, and 240003. In order to approve CUP 220035, PUP 220002, and DA 2200018, the Board must also consider diminishment of the agricultural preserves and cancellation of the Williamson Act contracts on the affected parcels within the project site. Duly noticed public hearings were held on the agricultural preserve diminishments were held by the Comprehensive Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (CAPTAC) on July 25, 2024, and the required findings for diminishment and the proposed alternative land use were met in accordance with Resolution No. 84-526.

Desert Center

Riverside

Countywide

Riverside