The California Energy Commission (CEC) has scheduled its first public meeting on the proposed Prairie Song Reliability Project for February 24, 2026, in Acton, Los Angeles County. The event will allow community members to learn about the project and the CEC’s Opt-In Certification process, as well as offer feedback.
Prairie Song Reliability Project, LLC has submitted an application under the CEC’s Opt-In Certification program to construct a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Acton. The planned facility would store surplus electricity from the power grid during periods of low demand and release it when demand is high. The BESS is designed for long-duration operation—up to eight hours—and would have a capacity of 1,150 megawatts with a total energy capacity of around 9,200 megawatt-hours. According to project details, this would be sufficient to supply power to approximately 850,000 homes for eight hours. The project aims to enhance local and regional grid reliability and could delay or eliminate the need for new transmission infrastructure.
Infrastructure related to the project includes a substation, inverters, fencing, operations buildings, stormwater management features, and communication systems. It will connect to Southern California Edison’s Vincent Substation through an overhead line that could be either 1.1 or 1.8 miles long.
After submitting its initial application on July 2, 2025—which was deemed incomplete by CEC staff on August 1—the applicant provided additional materials. On January 30, 2026, CEC staff found the application complete and initiated a mandatory certification review period lasting up to 270 days.
The upcoming meeting at Acton Agua Dulce Library will include presentations from both CEC staff and Prairie Song representatives outlining their roles and responsibilities in reviewing the proposal. Representatives from the CEC Office of Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs will also explain how residents can participate in future proceedings. Attendees can join either in person or remotely.
The next steps after this informational session include publication of a staff assessment with an environmental impact report (EIR), followed by another public meeting and a two-month comment period before any final decision by the commission.
Discussing regulatory context, officials explained that “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 initiative is intended “to accelerate the development of clean energy in California and support the retirement of fossil fuel-based resources.”
Through this program, the CEC acts as lead agency under state environmental law and hosts meetings near proposed sites to collect input from stakeholders including Native American tribes and local communities. Environmental reviews must generally conclude within nine months once an application is deemed complete.
If approved by commissioners following review processes and consultation periods—including tribal engagement—the issued certificate would usually replace other required permits or approvals at various government levels where federal law allows. The commission would then oversee construction compliance and ongoing operations until eventual decommissioning if necessary.
Regarding safety standards for battery storage facilities like BESS projects statewide: State agencies have updated codes such as the California Fire Code—effective January 1st—and adopted new operational protocols ratified by utility regulators last year. These measures are informed by expert studies with goals set on advancing safety amid evolving technology trends across California’s growing battery storage sector.
“Safe development and operation of BESS has been and remains a top priority for California energy agencies,” according to information released by officials involved with cross-agency safety initiatives led by Governor Newsom’s administration.
Certification requires adherence to stringent safety protocols including compliance with fire codes; coordination with local emergency responders; dedicated command centers; real-time monitoring systems; gas venting mechanisms; thermal cameras; as well as air- and water-quality checks during emergencies.
For more information about participation opportunities or updates regarding this project or similar initiatives under expedited permitting programs aimed at expanding renewable resources while ensuring public safety standards are met statewide: visit the official website.
