Demonstration of LDES at the Rapid Integration and Commercialization Unit (RICU) Wave 2
Summary
SCH Number
2024060347
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Demonstration of LDES at the Rapid Integration and Commercialization Unit (RICU) Wave 2
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/10/2024
Document Description
This agreement with Indian Energy LLC for a $4,850,000 grant will fund non-lithium-ion long duration energy storage (LDES) testing at the Rapid Integration and Commercialization Unit using four different LDES technologies at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The LDES systems will be operated both independently and as part of microgrid system to test and assess the demonstrated technology. Indian Energy LLC will develop and improve testing guidelines to evaluate the technology’s ability to power critical operations under diverse use cases, loads, and operating conditions; and will work in collaboration with first responders to develop safety guidelines for LDES systems on site.
Contact Information
Name
Caitlin Planchard
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Utilities Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
San Diego
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Miramar Way
Zip
92145
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 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 existing or former use at the time of the lead agency’s determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The proposed project will consist of the installation, connection, and demonstration of modular long duration energy storage technologies at an existing military facility. Minor alteration of existing facilities and mechanical equipment in the form of reconfiguration of existing electrical infrastructure will take place before location of skid mounted modular energy storage units are brought into the existing facilities. Additional minor alterations to topographical features include minor grading and/or trenching for concrete pads. This project will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond that already existing and is also subject to a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) categorical exclusion related to existing federal facilities. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15303
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects 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 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 CEQA. The proposed project consists of installing four long duration energy storage system technologies, each with a footprint of around 150 square feet, to an preexisting microgrid infrastructure at an existing military facility. This will require minor alterations to the existing electrical infrastructure of the microgrid infrastructure to connect the skid mounted energy storage units. Therefore, the proposed project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment. 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.
County Clerk
San Diego
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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