Grace Solar Energy Center

CUP03684R01 proposes to revise the previous approval of a 463.5 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar power plant, referred to as the Palo Verde Mesa Solar Project. The revision expands site acreage from 3,250 to 3,310 acres (60-acre increase), increases total energy production from 463.5 MW to 500 MW (37 MW increase), includes a new 500 MW battery storage system (BESS), and replaces a proposed full transmission line with connections to an existing transmission line. The new route would add approximately 1.9 miles of transmission line and connect the site to an approximately 8.6-mile existing transmission line that connects to the Southern California Edison (SCE) 230-kV Colorado River Substation, for a total approximately 10 .5-mile transmission line. The Project also includes an expansion of Bureau of Land Management-managed land from 28 to 395 acres, outside the scope of this approval. PUP00916R01 proposes a revision to the previous approval of approximately 11 .8 miles (out of 14.5 miles) of new transmission lines proposed on lands in County of Riverside rights-of-way. These transmission lines connect the solar power plant to the Colorado River Substation, which crosses certain County public rights-of-way. The modified Project includes primarily proposed transmissions lines on private land (covered under the CUP revision above) or federal land outside County of Riverside jurisdiction. However, proposed transmission line to the SCE 230-kV Colorado River Substation extends over a 158-foot portion of the County Right-of-Way and is subject to review under a public use perm it. DA0086A01 proposes a revision of the previously approved development agreement (DA No. 86) under the previously approved conditional use permit (CUP No. 3684). Board of Supervisors Policy No. B-29 regarding solar power plants states, "No approval required by Ordinance No. 348 shall be given for a solar power plant unless the Board first approves a development agreement with the solar power plant owner and the development agreement is effective."