Project History – Nighthawk Energy Storage

City of Grand Terrace Approval

The Condor Energy Storage Project is a 200-Megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility on a 10-acre site located near the corner of Main and Taylor Streets in Grand Terrace, California. The Project site is located on one of the parcels that previously housed a portion of the Highgrove Steam Plant which was constructed in 1951 to provide local and regional power. By 2010, the plant had been mostly deconstructed.

The Project will consist of lithium-ion batteries installed with racks, inverters, switchgear, and other associated equipment to directly interconnect with the Southern California Edison (“SCE”) Highgrove Substation located directly north of the property. The improvements will include, but are not limited to, perimeter walls and fencing, landscaping, underground electric cables, concrete pads for the BESS equipment, substation control enclosure, static mast, overhead interconnection tower, undergrounding existing power poles, street dedication with sidewalk, curb and gutter, water retention basins, security access gates, lighting, and security cameras.

History

In late 2018 and early 2019, the Project team identified key substations in the greater Los Angeles area, including Highgrove substation, that would receive the most benefit from a battery storage facility.
In April 2019, an application was submitted to Southern California Edison to commence interconnection studies for the Project at the Highgrove Substation located adjacent to the project site.
On September 28, 2020, a purchase and sale agreement for the Project location real estate was executed.
In October 2020, the Development Advisory Board Meeting Application was submitted to the City of Grand Terrace to formally introduce the project to the City.
On November 2, 2020, the City of Grand Terrace Development Advisory Board meeting was held including a project presentation at City Hall.
On November 25, 2020, the Conditional Use Permit and Site and Architectural Review Application was submitted to the City of Grand Terrace.
Throughout 2020 and 2021 departments of the City of Grand Terrace, the San Bernadino County Fire Department, and all other applicable agencies conduct their reviews of the project application.
On October 14, 2021, the City of Grand Terrace completed the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and opened the public review period.
On November 2, 2021, the City of Grand Terrace held a public outreach meeting to inform the community about the Environmental Review Process and to present the Project’s Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Draft.
On November 15, 2021, the IS/MND public review period closed.
On December 2, 2021, the Planning Commission of the City of Grand Terrace conducted a public hearing on the Project at the Grand Terrace Council Chambers.
On December 8, 2021, the City of Grand Terrace informed the project the Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board unanimously approved the project at the December 2, 2021 Public Hearing.
The Planning Commission approval became final after no appeals were submitted to the City Council during the appeal period.
The City of Grand Terrace Planning Commission/Site and Architectural Review Board included the following statements in its approval of the Project:
- The site is zoned M2-Industrial in the Zoning Map, and it is designated Industrial on the General Plan Land Use Map. The proposed BESS facility has been classified as a Quasi-Public Utility and Facility and it is a conditionally permitted use in the Industrial Zoning Designation
- This item supports Goal 3 to Promote Economic Development by establishing a use that is consistent with the Industrial Zoning District designation and support of reliable sustainable energy goals.
- The Project will comply with Public Health and Safety Element which primary role is the protection of people who live and work within city limits and appropriate measures have been identified to protect against natural/man-made hazards and to minimize the social, economic, and environmental disruption from hazardous events.
- The Applicant has included in the project description ample information regarding the project’s safety features, which will include continuous monitoring, shutdown system, built-in safes, multi-layer fire protection, and infrared monitors.
- The Project Plans were distributed to various agencies and City Departments for review and comment. Staff received a comment letter from the Colton Joint Unified School District on November 17, 2021, in response to the IS/MND draft review period. A response was drafted by the City’s Environmental consultant MIG on November 23, 2021, addressing the Unified School District comments and concerns.
- Conditions of Approval from the City’s Building and Safety Division, Public Works Division, and San Bernardino County Fire are included in the Resolution.
- The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration document and technical studies identified the Project would have “no impact” or “less than a significant impact” in the areas of noise, land use planning, public services, recreation, greenhouse emissions, aesthetics, agriculture and forest resources, air quality, hazards and hazardous materials, hydrology and water quality, mineral resources, transportation, and wildfire due to the incorporation of standard project conditions and mitigation measure(s) under the Mitigated Negative Declaration
- The public hearing notice for the Project was published in compliance with the City’s Zoning Code and City Council Resolution No. 2019-24, Expanded Public Noticing and Outreach Policy for Public Hearings and Public Workshops.
- In addition, even though there is no requirement, a public outreach meeting was held on November 2, 2021, to inform the community about the Environmental Review Process and to present the Project’s Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Draft.
In February 2023, a project groundbreaking ceremony was held with officials from the City of Grand Terrace in attendance.
In July 2023, the Project grading permit was received from the City of Grand Terrace and site grading commenced to support the project completion target in the second quarter of 2024.

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Approval

The Project’s resource adequacy power contract was approved via a competitive procurement process ordered as part of the CPUC’s Mid-term Reliability Orders.

The CPUC Mid-term Reliability Orders require California utilities to procure 15,500 megawatts of new power supply to meet the state’s dramatic need for additional power during peak summer months, caused by:

Increasing electricity demand
The increasing and accelerating impacts of climate change
The likelihood of additional fossil-fueled generation resource retirements
The likelihood of delays for procured new resources.

The Condor Project’s 200 megawatts of new power supply is a critical and approved part of meeting the CPUC mandated Mid-term Reliability need for summer 2023 and beyond.