Composite WiRe Wrap: Advancing Grid Capacity and Wildfire Safety in California
Summary
SCH Number
2026070192
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Composite WiRe Wrap: Advancing Grid Capacity and Wildfire Safety in California
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
7/7/2026
Document Description
The purpose of this Agreement is to fund applied research, development, and testing of a composite wire wrap technology that can increase the power capacity and structural performance of existing grid infrastructure, support integration of renewable energy, and increase grid resilience and reliability.
The rapid deployment of intermittent renewable energy resources and widespread shift towards building and vehicle electrification are straining California's electric grid infrastructure. Grid challenges such as congestion, renewable curtailment, and insufficient capacity to connect new resources and loads illustrate the need for advanced grid technology solutions that facilitate achieving the state's energy and climate goals while increasing grid resilience and reliability. At the same time, ratepayers face affordability challenges largely driven by wildfire mitigation costs. There is a critical need to develop and deploy scalable, cost-effective solutions that affordably increase grid capacity, resilience, and reliability in the face of climate change and wildfire threats.
GirdWrap, Inc. has developed a Composite WiRe Wrap system for direct installation on existing electrical lines. The proposed solution increases power capacity, and the performance and safety of the electrical grid while reducing the need for costly and lengthy system rebuilds. Scaled deployment can support California in achieving its statutory energy goals by enabling clean energy integration, increasing grid resilience, and improving energy affordability.
As part of this research, the recipient will carry out a pilot test of the technology at two sites administered by San Diego State University, in order to verify wire wrap performance in a large-scale demonstration under relevant environmental conditions over a minimum of 12 months.
Contact Information
Name
Alexander Wyckoff
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Commission Agreement Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Talieh Zargar
Agency Name
GridWrap, Inc.
Job Title
CTO and Co-Founder
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Brawley, Idaho Falls, San Diego
Counties
Imperial, San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
560 CA-78
Zip
92227
Other Location Info
Two locations:
1) San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus at 560 CA-78, Brawley, CA
2) San Diego State University Structural Lab at 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA.
Other Information
Coordinates for location #2 - 32.77500821083562, -117.07132674613545.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Sec. 15301
Reasons for Exemption
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). The proposed project will install and demonstrate various system configurations consisting of Class 5 and Class 6 utility poles bolted to ground-mounted skids with between 200 to 600 feet of wiring (including test and control cables), located at both the San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus at 560 CA-78, Brawley, CA and at the San Diego State University Structural Lab at 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA. The demonstration will be located on existing, already developed sites. Only limited electrical setup will be needed and will involve installing equipment such as generators without the construction of new facilities. Thus, the project will involve the minor alternation of existing facilities and will result in negligible or no expansion of use beyond the already existing infrastructure. Therefore, the project falls within section 15301 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Sec. 15303
Reasons for Exemption
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. The recipient plans to install various system configurations consisting of Class 5 and Class 6 utility poles bolted to ground-mounted skids. If needed for pole installation, excavation to a depth of 4 feet may be required and then backfilled. Associated support equipment (generators, switchgear, metering) will also be installed on existing structures. Therefore, the proposed project falls within section 15303 and will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Sec. 15304
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, Sec. 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 excavation and backfilling where the surface is restored. The proposed project consists of limited excavation and backfilling for the temporary installation of utility poles. The Project would not remove any healthy, mature, or scenic trees. The excavation 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.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2
Reasons for Exemption
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; 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 sites are 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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