Grace Solar Energy Center
3 Documents in Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025010194
Lead Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
Grace Solar Energy Center
Document Type
NOD - Notice of Determination
Received
Posted
7/15/2026
Document Description
CUP03684R01 proposes to revise the previous approval of a 463.5 megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar power plant, referred to as the Palo Verde Mesa Solar Project. The revision expands site acreage from 3,250 to 3,310 acres (60-acre increase), increases total energy production from 463.5 MW to 500 MW (37 MW increase), includes a new 500 MW battery storage system (BESS), and replaces a proposed full transmission line with connections to an existing transmission line. The new route would add approximately 1.9 miles of transmission line and connect the site to an approximately 8.6-mile existing transmission line that connects to the Southern California Edison (SCE) 230-kV Colorado River Substation, for a total approximately 10 .5-mile transmission line. The Project also includes an expansion of Bureau of Land Management-managed land from 28 to 395 acres, outside the scope of this approval. PUP00916R01 proposes a revision to the previous approval of approximately 11 .8 miles (out of 14.5 miles) of new transmission lines proposed on lands in County of Riverside rights-of-way. These transmission lines connect the solar power plant to the Colorado River Substation, which crosses certain County public rights-of-way. The modified Project includes primarily proposed transmissions lines on private land (covered under the CUP revision above) or federal land outside County of Riverside jurisdiction. However, proposed transmission line to the SCE 230-kV Colorado River Substation extends over a 158-foot portion of the County Right-of-Way and is subject to review under a public use perm it. DA0086A01 proposes a revision of the previously approved development agreement (DA No. 86) under the previously approved conditional use permit (CUP No. 3684). Board of Supervisors Policy No. B-29 regarding solar power plants states, "No approval required by Ordinance No. 348 shall be given for a solar power plant unless the Board first approves a development agreement with the solar power plant owner and the development agreement is effective."
Contact Information
Name
Brendan Lewis
Agency Name
Grace Orchard Solar III, LLC
Job Title
Senior Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Brendan Lewis
Agency Name
Grace Orchard Interconnection, LLC
Job Title
Senior Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Name
Dat Tran
Agency Name
Riverside County
Job Title
Senior Planner
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Blythe, Mesa Verde
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Buck Boulevard and 9th Avenue
Zip
92225
Total Acres
3,705
Parcel #
See Other Location Information
State Highways
Interstate 10
Railways
None
Airports
Blythe Municipal Airport
Schools
Palo Verde College
Waterways
McCoy Wash
Township
6S/7S
Range
21
Section
23, 26
Other Location Info
Parcel Numbers: 821020007, 821060003, 818180011, 821020019, 821060006, 818180014, 821020020, 821080043, 818180015, 821020021, 821080044, 818180017, 821020022, 821080045, 818180018, 821020023, 821080046, 818210003, 821020024, 821080047, 818210004, 821020025, 821080050, 818210014, 821020026, 821090011, 818241019, 821020027, 821090012, 818241021, 821020028, 821090013, 818242025, 821020029, 821090014, 818242026, 821050004, 821090015, 818242027, 821050016, 821090016, 879080020, 821050017, 821090017, 879080021, 821050018, 821090018, 879080022, 821050019, 821100034, 879080025, 821050020, 821050012, 879090031, 821050021, 821050013, 879090032, 821050022, 821050014, 879090033, 821050023, 821050015, 879090034, 821050028, 821050024, 821050029, 821050025, 821060001, 821050026, 821060002, 821050027
Additional Sections: 35/2-8,10,11
Notice of Determination
Approving Agency
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Approving Agency Role
Lead Agency
Approved On
County Clerk
Riverside
Final Environmental Document Available at
Riverside County Planning Department, 4080 Lemon Street, 12th Floor, Riverside, CA 92501
Determinations
(1) The project will have a significant impact on the environment
Yes
(2a) An Environmental Impact Report was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
(2b) A Mitigated or a Negative Declaration was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(2c) An other document type was prepared for this project pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
No
(3) Mitigated measures were made a condition of the approval of the project
Yes
(4) A mitigation reporting or monitoring plan was adopted for this project
Yes
(5) A Statement of Overriding Considerations was adopted for this project
Yes
(6) Findings were made pursuant to the provisions of CEQA
Yes
Attachments
Notice of Determination
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