A third battery storage facility proposed in Menifee is set to go before the Planning Commission during a public hearing Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
The Seaflower Battery Energy Storage System is proposed on approximately 3.84 acres near Matthews, McLaughlin and Menifee roads, in the same area as two other battery storage facilities.Â
Plans call for a battery storage facility with a capacity of up to 400 megawatt-hours that would connect to Southern California Edison’s nearby Valley Substation. The facility would use lithium iron phosphate or similar batteries housed in individual containers.Â
The project would join the existing 680-megawatt Nova Power Bank and the planned 500-megawatt Double Butte Battery Energy Storage System, which was approved by the Planning Commission earlier this year.
The City received a community benefit fee of approximately $6.5 million for the Nova Power Bank project and is expected to receive approximately $4 million for the Double Butte project, according to previous Menifee 24/7 reporting. The public hearing notice does not specify whether the City would receive a community benefit fee for the Seaflower project.
Fire safety was a major topic when the Planning Commission considered Double Butte in April, following battery storage fires elsewhere in California. Commissioners questioned representatives about fire prevention, emergency response and the potential for fires to spread between battery containers before approving the project.
No permanent employees are expected to work at the Seaflower facility, which would be remotely monitored with workers visiting periodically for inspections, testing and maintenance.
The City of Menifee Community Development Department determined the project would not have a significant effect on the environment with mitigation measures and is recommending the adoption of a Mitigated Negative Declaration. The Planning Commission will consider the environmental document along with the project during the Oct. 28 hearing at Menifee City Hall, 29844 Haun Road.
The environmental document is available for a 30-day public review period through Oct. 21, with written comments on the document due by the same date. Residents can also submit comments on the proposed project ahead of the hearing or provide comments during the hearing.
For more information about the project or to submit written comments, residents can contact Planning Manager Ryan Fowler at 951-723-3740 or rfowler@cityofmenifee.us. Written correspondence can also be sent to the City of Menifee Community Development Department, Attn: Ryan Fowler, 29844 Haun Road, Menifee, CA 92584.
