The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold a public meeting on February 24, 2026, to discuss the proposed Prairie Song Reliability Project in Acton, Los Angeles County. The meeting is open to the public both in-person at the Acton Agua Dulce Library and remotely via Zoom.
The project applicant, Prairie Song Reliability Project, LLC, has submitted an application under the CEC’s Opt-In Certification program to build and operate a battery energy storage system (BESS) on private land in Acton. The facility would have an 8-hour duration and a capacity of 1,150 megawatts (MW), totaling approximately 9,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage. According to project documents, this would be enough to power about 850,000 homes for eight hours. The BESS aims to enhance grid reliability in the Los Angeles Basin and could defer or eliminate the need for new regional transmission facilities.
In addition to the main storage system, construction would include related infrastructure such as a substation, inverters, operations buildings, stormwater basins, and communication systems. The facility would connect to Southern California Edison’s Vincent Substation through either a 1.1-mile or 1.8-mile overhead line.
After receiving the initial application on July 2, 2025, CEC staff found it incomplete but accepted revised materials on January 30, 2026. This started a formal review process expected to last up to 270 days.
The upcoming meeting will cover details about the project and explain how members of the public can participate in the certification process or provide comments. CEC staff will also outline their responsibilities in reviewing applications and engaging with government agencies, Native American tribes, neighboring communities, and other stakeholders. Representatives from the Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs will present information on public participation opportunities.
The Opt-In Certification program was established as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s agenda to speed up clean energy development across California by offering an alternative permitting pathway for certain projects. Under this program, environmental reviews must typically be completed within 270 days after an application is deemed complete. The CEC acts as lead agency under state environmental law and hosts local meetings for input from residents and other interested parties.
If approved by the CEC, projects certified under this program may not require additional permits from most state or local agencies unless federal law dictates otherwise. The CEC oversees compliance throughout construction and operation phases.
Safety remains a focus for battery storage projects statewide. Recent measures include updates to the California Fire Code that took effect January 1, 2026—adding stricter standards for BESS facilities—and new maintenance protocols approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in March 2025. These efforts aim to keep pace with evolving technology while ensuring safety through collaboration with fire departments and real-time monitoring systems.
According to the CEC: “Safe development and operation of BESS has been and remains a top priority for California energy agencies.”
More information about project details can be found on the Prairie Song Reliability Project application webpage. Details about certification requirements are available at the Opt-In Certification Program webpage.
The California Energy Commission serves as California’s primary agency for energy policy planning with responsibilities including power plant certification and renewable energy development.
