The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold its first public informational and environmental scoping meeting on November 6 regarding the proposed Corby Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Solano County. The meeting will take place at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville from 2 to 8 p.m., with options for both in-person and remote participation via Zoom.
The Corby BESS project, proposed by North Bay Interconnect, LLC, and Corby Energy Storage, LLC, seeks to construct a 300-megawatt facility capable of storing up to 1,200 megawatt-hours of energy. The facility would be located on approximately 40 acres southwest of Kilkenny and Byrnes Roads in Solano County. Project features include a substation, inverters, fencing, sound barriers, roads, an optional groundwater well, water tank, stormwater retention basins, storage containers, and a supervisory control and data acquisition system.
According to the CEC, “The purpose of the public informational and scoping meeting is for the project applicant to explain the project, the CEC to explain the Opt-In Certification process, and for the public to learn about how to participate in the CEC proceeding and share their comments about the project.”
After initial application materials were submitted on November 4, 2024, they were deemed incomplete by December 9. Updated materials were later provided by the applicants. On October 17 this year, following review of these updates, the CEC determined that the application was complete—triggering a formal 270-day certification process.
During this process, CEC staff will prepare an assessment that includes an environmental impact report. This assessment will be discussed at another public meeting during a subsequent 60-day comment period before any final decision is made on whether to approve the project.
Battery energy storage systems are subject to strict safety requirements under California law. The CEC emphasized its collaboration with fire safety experts and local responders: “The safe development and operation of battery energy storage systems is a top priority for California. The CEC works closely with fire safety experts, local responders, and other state agencies to ensure projects comply with the California Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association standards, and new safety protocols. This project, if approved, would be subject to robust safety requirements including advanced fire suppression systems, continuous monitoring, and emergency response planning.”
If certified by the CEC under its Opt-In Certification program—part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s initiative to accelerate clean energy development—the project could proceed without additional permits from most other agencies as allowed by federal law. The commission would also oversee compliance throughout construction and operation.
Explaining its broader responsibilities around battery storage safety measures statewide: “Safe development and operation of battery storage systems has been and remains a top priority for California energy agencies. The CEC is part of a cross-agency collaborative convened by Governor Newsom to find opportunities to improve safety as technology continues evolving. Key initiatives include an update to the California Fire Code happening this year… These and other ongoing efforts are based on the latest studies and consultation with experts to keep California at the forefront of safe and reliable battery storage technology deployment.”
For more information about participating in meetings or reviewing documents related to this project or others under consideration through Opt-In Certification pathways—including details on upcoming updates—visit https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/batterystorage/corby-battery-energy-storage-system-project-23-afc-03.
Additional information about BESS regulatory standards can be found at https://www.energy.ca.gov/programs-and-topics/programs/opt-certification-program.
