Storage Technology and New Energy Resiliency Demonstration (STANDERD)
Summary
SCH Number
2025081244
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Storage Technology and New Energy Resiliency Demonstration (STANDERD)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/27/2025
Document Description
The purpose of this project is to fund the design, construction, and operation of an innovative, low-cost 0.5-megawatt / 8 megawatt-hour organic redox flow battery system to provide energy resiliency to the High Desert Regional Health Center, which serves communities located in critical Very High Fire Hazard Severity and Seismic Hazard Zones in northern Los Angeles County. This agreement will be an important commercial pilot of Quino Energy's organic flow battery system verifying performance and cost-savings for the proposed use-cases. The flow battery system will deliver electricity cost savings and facility-wide energy resiliency to Los Angeles county's health center, located in a disadvantaged and low-income community.
Contact Information
Name
Elyse Kedzie
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Utilities Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Edward Chiao
Agency Name
Long Hill Energy Partners
Job Title
Project Manager
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Lancaster
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
E Avenue I and E 3rd St.
Zip
93535
Schools
Desert Winds High, Linda Verde, Antelope Valley High, Plute Midd
Other Location Info
335 E Avenue I
Lancaster, CA 93535
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301 ; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15303 ; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15301 provides that projects which consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alternations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, and which involve negligible or no expansion of existing or former use at
the time of the lead agency's determination, are categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Examples listed in section 15301 include, but are not limited to, existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services. The proposed project will install and demonstrate an 8 megawatt-hour organic redox flow battery system to provide energy resiliency to the High Desert Regional Health Center at 335 E Avenue I, Lancaster. The demonstration will be located on an existing, unoccupied, brownfield site. Thus, the Project will involve the minor alternation of an existing power generation facility and would not result in expansion of use. This project will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond that already existing. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15303 provides that projects which consist of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure, are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. Up to 1,000 feet of trenching at a depth of 4 feet will be required to install electrical cable and then backfilled. Ground surface will be covered with crushed gravel and containers will be placed on helical piers. Associated support equipment (inverters, transformers, switchgear, metering) will be installed on concrete pads. Therefore, the proposed project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15304 provides that projects which consist of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry or agricultural purposes are categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA. Examples listed in section 15304 include, but are not limited to, minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored. The proposed project consists of up to 1,000 feet trenching and backfilling in bare land for installation of electric cable. The Project would not remove any healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The trenching would be temporary and the surface would be restored. Therefore, the project falls within section 15304 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Additionally, the project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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