CVEC 2 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facility

The City of Chula Vista has approved a Conditional Use Permit and Design Review for the development of a 50-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility on a 3.82-acre parcel within the Limited Industrial - Precise Plan (ILP) zone at 3497 Main Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911. The project, led by Chula Vista Energy Center, LLC, is designed to store renewable energy, stabilize voltage fluctuations, and enhance grid resilience during transmission outages. All work must comply with municipal codes including the Chula Vista Municipal Code, California Title 24, the California Building Code, ADA accessibility standards, and the Wildland Urban Interface Code, with compliance enforced through inspections conducted by certified professionals and final approval by the City’s Fire Department. Construction is subject to strict environmental and operational conditions, including seasonal restrictions from March 1 to July 31 to protect nesting birds, implementation of erosion and stormwater controls, and mandatory use of full-cutoff lighting and graffiti-resistant materials. The facility must operate exclusively under coordination with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) and is prohibited from engaging in direct private energy sales. The approval is conditioned on a range of compliance and reporting obligations, including a one-time $196,000 community benefit payment, the establishment of an annual $50,000 scholarship program for local STEM students, and submission of bi-annual reports over five years documenting community contributions. The applicant must file a Notice of Exemption with the State Clearinghouse within five working days of approval, provide soil sampling documentation if soil is exported, and submit all planning and engineering documents in digital format through the City’s GIS portal using specified AutoCAD, ESRI GIS, and ArcGIS formats. The permit expires on October 7, 2028, and any extension must be initiated prior to that date. No federal contract clauses, acquisition data, invoice mechanisms, or procurement evaluation factors are applicable, as this is a municipal land use and environmental permitting action under CEQA and local regulatory authority, not a federal acquisition. The project does not involve federal funding, accounting symbols, or standard federal contracting roles such as COR, COTR, or PCO; oversight is managed through the City’s Director of Development Services and related departments.