Low-Cost and Scalable Second Use Battery Demonstration in Central California for Equitable United States Based Manufacturing and Job Growth

2024020557

California Energy Commission

NOE - Notice of Exemption

2/15/2024

2/15/2024

Bryan Lee

California Energy Commission

Mechanical Engineer

Responsible Agency

719 P St.
Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 654-4287

bryan.lee@energy.ca.gov

93660

Carlsbad 92011

Categorical Exemption

Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 ; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15303

The objective of the project is to demonstrate manufacture, and test a second life battery ESS (Energy Storage System). The ESS will be manufactured at an existing manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Carlsbad, California. The ESS will then be demonstrated at that Carlsbad location, as well as at an existing electric company in Fresno, California, for 12 months. Data gathered from the demonstration will be used to evaluate efficacy of the ESS. California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. The manufacturing component of this project will occur at an existing manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, using existing equipment. The ESS will also be demonstrated at this same existing facility in Carlsbad – a commercial office space and attached warehouse currently used for manufacturing, research and development, and storage. At this site, a 500KWh second life battery ESS will be installed, with an overall dimension of 25' L x 10' W. Expected alterations include upgrading existing electrical infrastructure to accommodate the battery ESS requirements, mounting the battery ESS to the existing concrete floor, and moving shelving to accommodate the battery ESS. Demonstration in Fresno will deploy a 3MWh second life battery ESS at Wellhead Electric Company Inc. This ESS will integrate with an existing onsite 70MW gas turbine generation and existing 3MW solar. At the Fresno site, 3 MOAB units (each approximately 15' L x 10' W x 10' T) and electrical control components will be installed outdoors, with an overall dimension of 68' L x 30' W. The Fresno site is an existing 62 MW gas-fired power station, with a 3 MW solar PV generation plant, and a 16 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system. The project will be adding storage capacity to the battery system that operates in support of the gas plant and will require minimal changes to the existing facility. Currently, the existing lot is graded dirt with existing PV generation and energy storage equipment. In addition to pouring the concrete pad, the battery ESS units and electrical control components will be mounted directly to the concrete pad approximately 68’ L x 30’ W. In addition to the concrete pad, electrical infrastructure such as conduit and wire runs will be installed if necessary. The project will consist of the pouring of a concrete pad on land which does not have vegetation No healthy, mature, scenic trees will be removed during the potential paving. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under section 15301. California Code Regs., tit. 14, section 15303 provides that project which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion Authority cited: Sections 21083 and 21110, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 21108, 21152, and 21152.1, Public Resources Code. Smartville, Inc. CEQA Notice of Exemption Page 3 of 3 EPC-23-016 of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act. At the Fresno site, 3 MOAB units (each approximately 15' L x 10' W x 10' T) and electrical control components will be installed outdoors, with an overall dimension of 68' L x 30' W. At the Carlsbad site, a 500KWh second life battery ESS will be installed indoors, with minor modifications to the existing facility, and with an overall dimension of 25' L x 10' W. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under section 15303. The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; 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. For these reasons, the proposed work will not have any significant effect on the environment and falls under sections 15301 and 15303.