Potentia-Viridi Battery Energy Storage System

The Potentia-Viridi Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, identified by solicitation number 24-OPT-04, involves the construction and operation of a large-scale lithium-ion battery storage facility located on approximately 102 acres of retired agricultural land in eastern Alameda County, California. The facility is designed to provide 400 megawatts of power with an energy storage capacity of up to 3,200 megawatt-hours. Key infrastructure components include modular and containerized BESS enclosures, an operations and maintenance building, a project substation, and a 500 kilovolt overhead generation tie-in line that will connect to the PG&E Tesla Substation. The project is being overseen by the California Energy Commission (CEC) under its Opt-In Certification Program and requires compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The project development process has involved extensive regulatory review and consultation with various state agencies to address environmental, cultural, and resource impacts. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board have provided oversight regarding biological resources, habitat assessments for special-status species, and water quality protection. Additionally, the Native American Heritage Commission has emphasized the need for tribal cultural resource protection and compliance with AB 52 and SB 18. The project must adhere to strict safety and environmental standards, including Department of Transportation regulations for hazardous materials transportation, EPA methods for air quality testing, and specific mitigation measures for agricultural land preservation and wildlife habitat. Construction of the facility is expected to create prevailing wage jobs and requires specialized biological monitoring for species such as the burrowing owl and Crotch's bumble bee.