Conditional Use Permit No. 26-009: Pronghorn Solar and BESS

Pronghorn Solar Plus, LLC (“Applicant”) proposes to entitle, construct, operate, maintain and decommission a utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) electrical generating and storage facility that would generate and deliver renewable energy to the statewide electricity transmission grid. As shown on Figure 2, Proposed Project, the project would include the construction and operation of up to 50 megawatts (MW) of PV solar generation, a BESS with a capacity of up to 50 MW, installation of 34.5 kilovolt (kV) collection lines and a 66 kV generation transmission (gen-tie) line, and a project Substation that would step up the voltage from 34.5 kV to 66 kV. A gen-tie line would directly connect the project substation to the existing SCE Piute substation. Per Sections 17.08.290 and 17.08.050 of the City of Lancaster Municipal Code, utility scale solar facilities and utility scale BESS are allowable uses subject to a conditional use permit (CUP) within the RR-2.5 zone. The Applicant is seeking a CUP (CUP No. 26-009) for construction and operation of the project. The project would sell the renewable energy it produces under the terms of a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with a load serving entity or other power off-taker. For purposes of the CEQA analysis, it is assumed the project would operate for 30 years. Upon completion of the PPA term, the project operator may, at its discretion, continue to generate and sell power from the project, or decommission and remove the system and its components. Upon decommissioning, project structures not needed for subsequent use would be removed from the project site and the site could be converted to other uses in accordance with applicable land use regulations in effect at that time.