SCH Number 2021010168

Project Info

Title

Bellefield Solar Project by 50LW 8ME (8Minute Energy) Response to Comments

Description

The Bellefield Solar Project by 50LW 8ME LLC (8Minute Energy - project proponent), is a proposed photovoltaic solar facility and energy storage system capable of producing up to 1,500 megawatt (MW) alternating current (AC) utility-scale solar power with an up to 1,500 MW-hour (MWh) energy storage capacity on approximately 8,371 acres of privately-owned land. The proposed project would be supported by a 230 kilovolt (kV) overhead and/or underground electrical transmission line(s) originating from one or more on-site substation(s)/switchyard(s) and terminating at the Southern California Edison (SCE) Windhub Substation. The proposed project’s permanent facilities would include service roads, a power collection system, communication cables, overhead and underground transmission lines, electrical switchyards, project substations, energy storage system(s), and operations and maintenance (O&M) facilities. The project proponent is requesting the following: Kern County (Lead Agency): a) GPA #2, Map 195 from the existing Map Code 1.1 (State or Federal Land) to 8.5 (Resource Management) for approximately 82.19 acres; b) ZCC # 2, Map 195 from existing Zone District A-1 (Limited Agriculture) to A (Exclusive Agriculture) for approximately 5,291.55 acres and from A-1 MH (Limited Agriculture - Mobile Home Combining) to A for approximately 146.71 acres.; c) ZCC #57, Map 196 from existing Zone District M-3 PD (Heavy Industrial - Precise Development Combining) to M-1 PD (Light Industrial - Precise Development Combining) for approximately 477.39 acres and M-2 PD (Medium Industrial – Precise Development Combining) to M-1 PD for approximately 141.43 acres; d) Issuance of CUP #1, Map 195 to allow for the construction and operation of a 5,438.26-acre PV solar facility with a total project generating capacity, in both Kern County and California City, of up to 1,500 MW of alternating current power and 1,500 MW hours of storage capacity within the A (Exclusive Agriculture) pursuant to Section 19.12.030.G of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance; e) Issuance of CUP #57, Map 196 to allow for the construction and operation of a 830.87-acre PV solar facility with a total project generating capacity, in both Kern County and California City, of up to 1,500 MW of alternating current power and 1,500 MW hours of storage capacity within the A (Exclusive Agriculture) District pursuant to Section 19.12.030.G, M-1 PD (Light Industrial - Precise Development Combining) District pursuant to Section 19.36.030.G, and M-3 PD (Heavy Industrial - Precise Development Combining) District pursuant to Section 19.40.030.G of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance; f) GPA #3, Map 195 to amend the Circulation Element of the Kern County General Plan to remove road reservations on section and mid-section lines within the Kern County project boundaries; g) SPA #31, Map 196 to amend the Circulation Element of the Mojave Specific Plan to remove road reservations on section and mid-section lines within the Kern County project boundaries; and h) Non-Summary Vacations of Public Access Easements within the Project Boundaries. California City (Responsible Agency): a) For the parcels within California City city-limits, a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) must be obtained from the City to allow for the construction and operation of a solar facility, in the O/RA (Open Space/Residential Agricultural) zone (CUP 19-03), of a 2,102.63-acre PV solar facility with a total project generating capacity, in both Kern County and California City, of up to 1,500 MW of alternating current power and 1,500 MW hours of storage capacity. The project proponent has requested to remove the future section and mid-section lines for the portion of the project within the City of California City’s jurisdiction. The City will determine during the CUP process (Sec. 9-2-2501 of the California City Municipal Code) what section lines will be required to be preserved and what ones will be removed. This document is Volume 7, Response to Comment of the Final EIR

7 documents in project