Titan II Battery Energy Storage System and Imperial Irrigation District R-Line Upgrades Project

The project applicant, Titan II, LLC, is currently requesting to modify a previously- approved conditional use permit (CUP) (CUP #17-0006) to add a 40 megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) and gen-tie line to interconnect with the existing Imperial Irrigation District’s (IID) R-Line on APN 018-170-067 (CUP #22-0003). The proposed project would also include replacing and upgrading equipment along an approximately 34-mile segment of the existing IID 92 kV R-Line, between the Dixieland Substation and Anza Substation. The R-Line upgrades are planned in order to address long-term integrity of the system as well as capacity and maintenance issues associated with the existing R-Line, which among others, is susceptible to further deterioration and damage from high wind events and/or storms. Generally, the R-Line upgrades would involve replacing existing wooden transmission poles that are approximately 50 to 80 feet in height with steel monopoles. The new steel pole structures would be of similar height, ranging from approximately 50 to 80 feet. The transmission line route traverses private land as well as federal land under the jurisdiction of Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The majority of the proposed transmission line upgrades would be located within the existing transmission line alignment and right-of-way (ROW); however, in a few areas, the existing ROW is very limited/narrow and will need to be expanded to accommodate the improvements. Accordingly, the project applicant is seeking an ROW grant from BLM to authorize expansion of the existing ROW on BLM-managed lands, as well as temporary access required to support construction activities. In order to process the requested authorization, the project applicant would be required to submit a Standard Form 299 (SF 299) Application and an associated Plan of Development to BLM. Review and approval of the ROW application constitutes a federal action; therefore, the proposed R -Line upgrades would be subject to environmental review in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and applicable BLM implementing regulations and guidance. The proposed project consists of the following components: 1) Modification to CUP #17-0006 to add the BESS and gen-tie line to interconnect with the R-Line (CUP #22-0003), and 2) Upgrades to the IID’s R-Line.