Crimson Solar Project

The Crimson Solar Project, managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), has been amended under Fish and Game Code section 1602 to include the construction of the Cobalt Gen-tie interconnection, which involves installing monopoles with foundations, tensioning transmission lines, and trenching for fiber optic cables at terminal points. The project, located in Riverside County west of Blythe and south of Interstate 10, affects approximately 1,983.6 acres of habitat and requires an amended Incidental Take Permit (ITP No. 2081-2021-015-06, Amendment No. 4) under the California Endangered Species Act to authorize incidental take of the desert tortoise and western burrowing owl. Mitigation measures, as outlined in the certified Environmental Impact Report and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, must be strictly followed to ensure no net increase in harm to protected species, including pre-construction surveys, habitat buffering, relocation protocols, and ongoing monitoring. All project activities are subject to CDFW oversight, with environmental filing fees required under Fish and Game Code § 711.4 and compliance with both CESA and CEQA as mandatory conditions. The project does not involve federal procurement mechanisms; there is no contract value, pricing data, payment office, or FAR clauses applicable, as the documentation solely governs environmental permitting and regulatory compliance rather than a federal acquisition contract. All interactions and approvals are handled through CDFW’s Inland Deserts Region in Ontario, with Marlee Poff serving as the primary point of contact for environmental review and permit administration.