Big Rock 2 Cluster Solar and Storage Project

The Big Rock 2 Cluster Solar and Energy Storage Project is a utility-scale photovoltaic and battery energy storage initiative proposed for approximately 1,849 acres of privately owned land across twenty-four parcels in the unincorporated area of Imperial County, California, near El Centro. The project seeks approval for a General Plan amendment, zone change, four Conditional Use Permits, and four variance requests to enable development of up to 500 megawatts of solar generation with supporting infrastructure including a substation and access roads, paired with an equal capacity 500 megawatt battery energy storage system. A high-voltage transmission line, approximately 200 feet in height, is planned to connect the project’s on-site substation to the Imperial Irrigation District’s existing Liebert Switchyard, enabling interconnection to the regional power grid. The applicant, 90FI 8ME LLC, operating under the Avantus brand, is undergoing regulatory review under the California Environmental Quality Act, which has resulted in a Negative Declaration confirming no significant environmental impacts, thereby eliminating the need for mitigation measures. The project’s approval authority rests with Imperial County, with oversight coordinated through its Planning and Development Services office in El Centro. There is no formal contract or federal procurement documentation associated with this project; instead, the process involves land-use permitting and environmental compliance under state and local regulations rather than competitive bidding or federal acquisition procedures. No solicitation number, contract value, pricing data, or federal acquisition regulation clauses are applicable or present, as the initiative is not a government procurement but a private development requiring municipal approvals. Key administrative contacts include Jim Minnick, Director of Planning and Research for Imperial County, and Jennifer Jackson, the project applicant. The place of performance is clearly defined at 1520 Jessup Rd., El Centro, CA, and while environmental compliance is a central requirement, specific technical standards such as IEEE, NERC, or UL are not referenced in the submitted materials. No payment, invoicing, contracting officer, or delivery schedule information is provided, and no formal representations, certifications, or socioeconomic classifications are required or included in the submission. The approval process concluded with a Notice of Determination issued on December 9, 2025, and publicly posted on December 11, 2025, indicating the project has cleared its primary regulatory hurdles for construction to proceed under county jurisdiction.