Second project slated for California, Nevada border near Primm

By JESSICA CEJNAR, Staff Writer

The Bureau of Land Management, Southern California Edison and Chevron are seeking public comment on two solar-related projects at either end of the High Desert.

In Lucerne Valley, Chevron Energy Solutions plans to construct a 45-megawatt solar project using photovoltaic panels.

At the other end of the desert, Southern California Edison plans to build a new substation in the Ivanpah Valley and connect it to another substation on the Nevada side using 35 miles of upgraded transmission lines. The project will support the solar energy project proposals in the Ivanpah area including the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, a 400-megawatt project that will be located about three miles from the stateline.

Jerry Silva, SCE project manager for renewable projects, said with the number of projects being developed for the Ivanpah area — about 1,400 megawatts in capacity — it was necessary to build a new substation and upgrade the existing transmission lines. The transmission lines will connect the Ivanpah projects to SCE’s Eldorado substation near Boulder City, Nev.

SCE filed its project application with the Bureau of Land Management and the California Public Utilities Commission on May 28, Silva said. The project is expected to be operational and complete in 2013.

Rather than being used to benefit specific homes in the Mojave Desert, the power generated from the proposed solar projects at Ivanpah will be returned to the California power grid that serves the entire state, SCE spokesman Paul Klein said. This project is part of SCE’s $20 billion capital improvement plan to build new transmission lines on the existing California power grid over the next five years, he said.

Juliet Don, manager of media and public relations for Chevron Energy Solutions, said Chevron is still at the beginning stages of its project. According to a press release issued Tuesday by the BLM, construction is expected to begin Dec. 1, 2010. The project will be located about eight miles east of Lucerne Valley. The project will consist of the construction of two phases, one capable of generating 20 megawatts of electricity and the other capable of generating 25 megawatts. A switchyard, control and maintenance building and a parking area will also be constructed.

Chevron and BLM representatives will hear from the public at the Lucerne Valley Community Center in Lucerne from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 29. Another public meeting will be held at the Family Life Public Enterprise Center in San Bernardino July 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Questions and comments can be e-mailed to LucerneSolar@blm.gov.

Public meetings for the Southern California Edison project will be at Primm Valley Golf Course near Primm, Nev. from 4 to 7 p.m. July 28, and at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 29. Representatives from the California Public Utilities Commission will be at both meetings. More information can be found at www.cpuc.ca.gov/ivanpah.html. The public can comment by e-mailing caeit@blm.gov

The public comment period for both projects is 30 days, but David Briery, BLM spokesman for the California Desert District said the public will be able to comment after each project phase is completed.