The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold its first public informational and environmental scoping meeting for the Corby Battery Energy Storage System Project on November 6. The event will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville, with options for virtual attendance via Zoom.
The project, proposed by North Bay Interconnect, LLC, and Corby Energy Storage, LLC, involves constructing a 300-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) in Solano County. The facility is planned to occupy about 40 acres southwest of Kilkenny and Byrnes Roads. It would charge and store electricity when there is excess solar or low-cost power available on the grid and discharge up to 1,200 megawatt-hours of stored energy as needed. The project also includes 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.
The CEC emphasizes that safety remains central in developing battery energy storage systems. According to the commission: “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.”
After receiving initial application materials in November 2024 under the Opt-In Certification program—an alternative permitting process designed to speed up clean energy projects—the CEC found them incomplete but accepted updated documents on October 17 this year. This initiated a formal review period lasting up to 270 days.
As part of this process: “As part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s build more, faster agenda, the state created an alternative permitting pathway for certain clean energy projects through the CEC’s Opt-In Certification program. This program is designed to accelerate the development of clean energy in California and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-based resources.”
Under this certification route—which was established to streamline approvals—the CEC serves as lead agency for environmental review according to state law. Public meetings are held locally near proposed sites so residents can share feedback during both informational sessions like this one and later comment periods after publication of staff assessments.
If approved by the commission: “If the CEC approves the project, the issuance of a certificate…is in lieu of any permits…required by state [or] local…agencies…to the extent permitted by federal law.” Ongoing oversight would include compliance checks during construction and operations as well as eventual decommissioning if necessary.
To obtain certification under current regulations for battery facilities such as BESS installations statewide—whose safety standards are being updated again this year—the project must meet strict criteria regarding fire prevention technology; real-time air/water quality monitoring; emergency incident management infrastructure; gas venting; thermal detection equipment; ongoing cooperation with first responders; among other measures.
For further information about attending or commenting at upcoming meetings or details about these regulatory programs—including updates specific to this proposal—visit either the Corby Battery Energy Storage System Project application webpage or the Opt-In Certification Program webpage.
According to its mandate: “The California Energy Commission is the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency. It has seven core responsibilities: advancing state energy policy, encouraging energy efficiency, certifying thermal power plants, investing in energy innovation, developing renewable energy, transforming transportation,and preparing for energy emergencies.”
