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 Project in Solano County. The meeting, which will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Ulatis Community Center in Vacaville, also offers remote participation via Zoom.
The Corby Battery Energy Storage System is a project proposed by North Bay Interconnect, LLC, and Corby Energy Storage, LLC. The application was submitted on November 4, 2024, through the CEC’s Opt-In Certification program. The plan involves constructing, operating, and eventually decommissioning a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 300 megawatts (MW). According to the application, the facility would store energy when there is excess solar or low-cost electricity available and discharge up to 1,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of stored energy as needed. The site would cover approximately 40 acres near Kilkenny and Byrnes Roads in Solano County and include supporting infrastructure such as a substation, inverters, fencing, sound barriers, stormwater basins, and control systems.
After initial application materials were deemed incomplete in December 2024, updated documents were submitted and accepted as complete on October 17. This triggered a statutory 270-day certification process under the Opt-In Certification pathway.
The upcoming public meeting aims to provide information about the project and explain how residents can participate in the CEC review process. During the session, representatives from both the CEC and the applicant will present details about the project plans and related facilities. The CEC’s Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs will describe ways for members of the public to engage with the proceedings.
“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,” according to organizers.
California considers safety in battery energy storage development a priority. The CEC collaborates with fire safety experts and local responders to ensure compliance with state codes like the California Fire Code and National Fire Protection Association standards. If approved, this project would need advanced fire suppression systems, continuous monitoring technology, emergency response planning measures—including dedicated command centers outside BESS facilities—and real-time air/water quality monitoring during emergencies.
The review process includes preparation of an environmental impact report by CEC staff. This assessment will be made available for public comment over a period of sixty days before any final decision is made on whether to approve or deny certification for construction.
The Opt-In Certification program was established as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s initiative to accelerate clean energy projects statewide. Under this program—which allows some clean energy projects an alternative permitting path—the CEC serves as lead agency under California Environmental Quality Act requirements. Public meetings are held locally at or near proposed sites; environmental reviews must generally be completed within 270 days after an application is deemed complete; consultation with Native American tribes is invited; local communities are encouraged to participate throughout; if certified by CEC most other required permits may not be necessary except where federal law applies; ongoing compliance monitoring occurs during operation until decommissioning.
Recent efforts across California have focused on updating safety standards for battery storage systems through regulatory changes—such as revisions to state fire codes expected this year—and new protocols adopted by utility regulators earlier this spring requiring stricter maintenance practices at BESS sites.
The California Energy Commission describes itself as “the state’s primary energy policy and planning agency” with responsibilities that include advancing state energy policy goals; certifying thermal power plants; investing in innovation; developing renewable resources; promoting efficiency; transforming transportation sectors; preparing for emergencies related to energy supply.
