Socioeconomic-geographic Intelligence for Grid Net-load Analytics and Learning (SIGNAL)
Summary
SCH Number
2026090749
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Socioeconomic-geographic Intelligence for Grid Net-load Analytics and Learning (SIGNAL)
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
9/17/2026
Document Description
The purpose of this Agreement is to fund development of actionable intelligence (AI)-based advanced multi-horizon net-load forecasting models that explicitly predict Behind-the-Meter (BtM) distributed energy resource behavior of solar photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicles (EVs) with focus in improving short-term forecasting accuracy under high-variability events, which will help grid operators to efficiently improve California's grid resilience and flexibility and deliver significant cost savings for ratepayers through enhanced load shifting and demand response.
Contact Information
Name
Alejandra Rios
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Commission Agreement Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Address
Phone
Name
Guann-Pyng Li
Agency Name
The Regents of the University of California, Irvine
Job Title
Principle Investigator
Contact Types
Project Applicant / Parties Undertaking Project
Address
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Laguna Woods
Counties
Orange
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
El Toro Rd between C. Sonora and Town Centre
Zip
92637
Other Location Info
24351 El Toro Rd
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sec. 15306 provides that the project which consist of basic data collection, research, experimental management, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource are exempt from the provisions of CEQA. The project involves only basic data collection at the Laguna Woods Village site. Activities are limited to gathering information from interested households with behind-the-meter resources such as rooftop solar (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESS), and electric vehicles (EVs). Accordingly, this activity will not have physical alterations an environmental resource and falls under categorical exemption Section 15306.
This project does not involve impacts on any particularly sensitive environment; 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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