Willow Rock Energy Storage Center (WRESC)

The Willow Rock Energy Storage Center (WRESC), identified by solicitation number 21-AFC-02, is a bulk-scale energy project approved by the California Energy Commission on December 19, 2025. Located in Kern County on a portion of parcel 431-022-13 north of Dawn Road, the facility will utilize proprietary, advanced compressed air energy storage technology. The project is designed for a nominal gross capacity of 520 megawatts (500 MW net) and a gross storage capacity of 4,160 megawatt-hours (4,000 MWh net). To integrate this power into the grid, the project includes the construction of a new 230-kilovolt generation-tie line approximately 19 miles long, which will deliver stored energy to Southern California Edison's Whirlwind Substation. The scope of the project encompasses the design, construction, siting, and operation of the facility in strict accordance with applicable public health and safety standards. A key component of the approval is the mandatory implementation of certification conditions and mitigation measures intended to minimize direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts to the fullest extent feasible, including a statement of Overriding Considerations regarding visual resources. The project is managed by the California Energy Commission and falls under NAICS code 237130.