Overnight Solar Project

This proposed project involves the construction and operation of a photovoltaic (PV) solar facility and battery energy storage system (BESS), and construction of a 1.1-mile generation-tie(gen-tie) line. The Project will consist of the following components: perimeter and exclusion fencing; solar PV generating facilities and solar modules; inverters; an on-site substation and associated fencing; a one-story control building; an operations and maintenance building; aboveground power lines to transport electricity to the on-site substation; individual lithium-ion cells and BESS controller housed within the BESS enclosure; direct current (DC)/DC converter, power conversion system inverter, and medium-voltage transformer associated with the BESS; gen-tie line and interconnection; on-site access roads; storm water facilities; and telecommunications equipment, such as fiber-optic lines, a supervisory control and data acquisition system, and auxiliary power. The Project will result in permanent impacts to 595.4 acres of Covered Species (Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), and western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)) habitat, as well as impacts to 17.2 acres of a developed area within the Mojave Solar facility footprint, totaling in 612.6 acres of impact. The project is expected to result in incidental take of Mojave desert tortoise, which is designated as an endangered species, Mohave ground squirrel, which is designated as a threatened species, and western burrowing owl, which is designated as a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The ITP referenced above as issued by CDFW authorizes incidental take of species listed under CESA that may occur as a result of Project implementation.