Elevating Microgrid Production to Optimize Widespread Energy Resilience (E.M.P.O.W.E.R)

Summary

SCH Number
2024080870
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Elevating Microgrid Production to Optimize Widespread Energy Resilience (E.M.P.O.W.E.R)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/22/2024
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to advance recipient’s Remote Grid SolarContainer product to a Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) of 8 - achieving Low-Rate Initial Production to prepare the product for mass production. The Remote Grid SolarContainer is a turnkey microgrid product, providing a utility-grade renewable energy supply capable of rapid deployment in any location. The product consists of a rapidly deployable solar array photovoltaic, a containerized battery energy storage system, utility-grade monitoring and controls Supervisory Controls and Data Acquisition, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and optional backup renewable propane generators. This project will benefit California ratepayers, especially those living in rural and wildfire-prone regions of the state, by reducing costs and wildfire risk and increasing reliability. The Remote Grid Solar Container will reduce wildfire risk and increase reliability for customers and those affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs. It will also lower costs to ratepayers by reducing grid hardening costs compared to more expensive alternatives like underground or covered conductors.

Contact Information

Name
Ayat Osman
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Electric Generation System Specialist 1
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Grass Valley
Counties
Nevada
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Loma Rica Dr and Grass Valley Ave
Zip
95945
Other Location Info
12438 Loma Rica Dr

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15303; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301, provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involvenegligible or no expansion of existing or former use, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). This project involves designing and manufacturing a plug-and-play solar and storage container that serves as a microgrid electricity generation and storage solution. The project involves design, manufacturing, and testing activities at an existing, developed site on land that is not environmentally sensitive. The project will involve no expansion of existing use at the facility. No historical resources or buildings will be affected. Noise and odors will not be generated by these activities in excess of existing permitted amounts. The design, manufacturing, and testing activities will not increase traffic to the site and will not require permits for air, water, conditional use, building expansion, hazardous waste, or rezoning. Therefore, the project is exempt from CEQA under section 15301. California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15303, provides that projects which consist of the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves designing and manufacturing a plug-and-play solar and storage container that serves as a microgrid electricity generation and storage solution. The project involves design enhancements and limited field testing of a limited number of small structures. The solar and storage containers used in the field tests are accessory or appurtenant small structures. California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15306, provides that projects which consists of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. This project involves basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in serious or major disturbance to an environmental source. This project includes mechanical design studies and engineering analyses of a plug-and-play solar container that serves as a microgrid electricity generation and storage solution. Manufacturing processes will be designed, evaluated, and optimized. This work will not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. Therefore, the project is exempt from CEQA under section 15306. 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.

Attachments

Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.

Download CSV New Search Print