The proposed Galaxy Solar PV and Storage Project is a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility with associated infrastructure necessary to generate up to 600-megawatt (MW) of renewable electrical energy, which may include up to 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage capacity (approximately 1,000 MW), on an approximate 3,400-acre project site, across 162 privately owned parcels, in an unincorporated area of southeastern Kern County, California.
A temporary offsite laydown area would be placed adjacent to State Route (SR)-58, at the northern extent of the project site. PV solar panels, a power collection system, including medium-voltage (MV) lines that connect the solar facilities, inverters, a switchyard, foundations, and transformers will be installed onsite.
Associated project infrastructure includes an operations and maintenance (O&M) facility, telecommunication facilities, energy storage system(s), an onsite collector substation, a 230-kV switchyard, and offsite water storage tanks for construction and operation. The proposed project also includes a generation-tie (gen-tie) line to connect the project to the existing Windhub Substation. Implementation of the project as proposed includes the following land use entitlement requests:
Zone Change
(a) Zone Classification Change No. 5, Map 195 from A-1 (Limited Agriculture) to A (Exclusive Agriculture) on approximately 966.77 acres;
(b) Zone Classification Change No. 4, Map 212 from A-1 (Limited Agriculture) to A (Exclusive Agriculture) on approximately 2,344.05 acres;
Conditional Use Permit
(a) Conditional Use Permit No. 4, Map 195, to allow for the construction and operation of a solar facility up to 150 MW and associated infrastructure, including energy storage, a switchyard, and temporary construction staging and equipment storage on approximately 966.77 acres in an A (Exclusive Agriculture) District, pursuant to Chapter 19.12.030.G and 19.12.030K of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance.
(b) Conditional Use Permit No. 5, Map 195, to allow for a temporary construction laydown area on approximately 17.4 acres of a 41.62 acre parcel, pursuant to Chapter 19.12.030.G and 19.12.030.K of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance.
(c) Conditional Use Permit No. 7, Map 212, to allow for the construction and operation of a solar facility up to 450 MW and associated infrastructure, including energy storage, a switchyard, and temporary construction staging and equipment storage on approximately 2,146.29 acres in an A (Exclusive Agriculture) District, pursuant to Chapter 19.12.030.G and 19.12.030K of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance;
General Plan Amendment (Circulation)
(a) General Plan Amendment No. 5, Map 195, to the Circulation Element of the Kern County General Plan (General Plan) to remove future road reservations on section and mid-section lines within the project boundary;
(b) General Plan Amendment No. 6, Map 212, to the Circulation Element of the General Plan to remove future road reservations on section and mid-section lines within the project boundary;
(c) General Plan Amendment No. 7, Map 212, to the Open Space, Land Use, and Conservation Element of the General Plan to re-designate two parcels (APNs 244-233-06 and 244-421-01) from General Plan Designation 3.3 (Other Facilities) to General Plan Designation 8.5 (Resource Management).
Zone Variance:
(a) Zone Variance No. 1, Map 195, to authorize multiple parcels of substandard size where a minimum of 20 acres is required for each change in base zoning from the A-1 (Limited Agriculture) District to the A (Exclusive Agriculture) District across approximately 40.92 total acres.
(b) Zone Variance No. 2, Map 212, to authorize multiple parcels of substandard size where a minimum of 20 acres is required for each change in base zoning from the A-1 (Limited Agriculture) District to the A (Exclusive Agriculture) District across approximately 12.66 total acres
Vesting Tentative Parcel Maps:
(a) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12577Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of three (3) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 195, Section 28, Township 11 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 23.02 acres (gross), resulting in a 23.02 acre (gross) parcel.
(b) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12578Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of twenty-eight (28) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 195, Section 33, Township 11 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 302.32 acres (gross), resulting in a 302.32 acre (gross) parcel.
(c) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12579Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of six (6) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 195, Section 34, Township 11 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 157.93 acre acres (gross), resulting in a 157.93 acre (gross) parcel.
(d) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12580Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of twenty-seven (27) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 212, Section 4, Township 10 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 90.81 (acres (gross), resulting in a 90.81 acre (gross) parcel.
(e) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12581Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of fifty-two (52) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 212, Section 4, Township 10 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 298.29 acres (gross), resulting in a 298.29 acre (gross) parcel.
(f) Vesting Tentative Parcel Map No. 12582Proposing a merger and re-subdivision of twenty-four (24) parcels into one (1) parcel of Case Map 212, Section 8, Township 10 North, Range 11 West, of County of Kern, consisting of 500.58 acres (gross), resulting in a 500.58 acre (gross) parcel.
Offsite Features:
(a) Zone Classification Change No. 5, Map 212 from A-1 (Limited Agriculture) to A (Exclusive Agriculture) to facilitate installation of offsite water storage tanks for construction and operations on approximately 20.26 acres;
(b) Zone Classification Change No. 57, Map 197 from A-1 (Limited Agriculture) to A (Exclusive Agriculture) to facilitate installation construction and operation of an off-site switchyard and temporary construction and equipment storage on approximately 34.82 acres;
(c) Conditional Use Permit No. 24, Map 197, to allow for the construction and operation of an off-site switchyard and temporary construction staging and equipment storage on approximately 29.4 acres in an A (Exclusive Agriculture) District, pursuant to Chapter 19.12.030.G and 19.12.030K of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance;
(d) Zone Variance No. 21, Map 197, to authorize multiple parcels of substandard size where a minimum of 20 acres is required for each change in base zoning from the A-1 (Limited Agriculture) District to the A (Exclusive Agriculture) District across approximately 34.82 total acres.
