Industrial FlexHub: Advancing Demand Load Flexible Technologies in Industrial, Agriculture, and Water
Summary
SCH Number
2025050534
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Industrial FlexHub: Advancing Demand Load Flexible Technologies in Industrial, Agriculture, and Water
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/13/2025
Document Description
The CEC is funding a grant of up to $17,000,000 to Build Momentum (d.b.a. Momentum) to support development of the project. The purpose of this project is to demonstrate and deploy technologies and strategies to advance the state of end-use demand response (DR) and load flexibility in California's industrial, agricultural, and water sectors through the IAW Hub, which will convene California's leading research institutions and research partners. Demonstration projects will only be carried out at existing industrial, agricultural, and water supply facilities.
Only four demonstration sites have been approved by the CEC to go forward in April 2025. Regarding future demonstration sites, pending receipt of environmental information and subject to CEC review and approval, see discussion below.
Contact Information
Name
Akruti Gupta
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Demand Flexibility R&D Specialist
Contact Types
Responsible Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Sophia Racke
Agency Name
Build Momentum (d.b.a. Momentum)
Job Title
Agreement Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Irwindale, Pomona, San Diego, Santa Barbara
Counties
Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara
Regions
Southern California
Zip
91766
Other Location Info
Santa Barbara 93103, San Diego 92154, Irwindale 91702
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 ; § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
The administration of IAW Hub activities will be carried out in existing offices, exempt under 14 C.C.R. sections 15301. Demonstration and deployment of technologies and strategies to advance the state of end-use demand Authority cited: Sections 21083 and 21110, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 21108, 21152, and 21152.1, Public Resources Code. Build Momentum CEQA Notice of Exemption Page 2 of 2 EPC-24-045 response and load flexibility in California's industrial, agricultural, and water (IAW) will take place at known and yet-to-be determined IAW facilities. Changes in facility controls to shift electrical load are unlikely to change the emissions to environmental media (i.e., air, water, land disposal), but they may do so. This agreement will initially provide $10,602,855 for the first phase consisting of four demonstration projects, electricity load profile characterization and IAW market assessment, stakeholder engagement, and technology and knowledge transfer
activities. For the already-identified, four demonstration projects, the activities are exempt under 14 C.C.R. sections 15301 and 15306, as described below. For additional, not-yet-identified demonstration sites, the Recipient will provide the CEC with recommended site addresses and descriptions, and environmental
information for CEC review, and respond to CEC inquiries about environmental considerations. Activities and spending associated with the up to $6,397,145 in additional funding may be approved by the CEC in one or more amendments, only if each proposed site demonstration requires no other local government discretionary permits, and also if the proposed site activities are exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act, in the judgment of the CEC.
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301: For each demonstration project, there will be no planned land disturbance, and the activities includes only modifications to control systems and load management technologies at existing facilities. For each demonstration project, there will be no expansion of the existing use of the facility, and there will not be a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Section 15306 provides that projects which consist of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities, and which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act. This project falls within these parameters.
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.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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