Battery Energy Storage Facility Proposed For Wildomar, Near Murrieta

WILDOMAR, CA — A project that would bring an 80-megawatt battery energy storage facility to Wildomar — at the border with Murrieta — appears to be moving forward.

On Dec. 6, the Wildomar Planning Commission will weigh whether to recommend two approvals for the Chiquito Battery Storage Facility, a project that is slated for a 2.83-acre area near the northeast corner of Clinton Keith Road and Grand Avenue. The site is adjacent to Southern California Edison's Tenaja substation, which the proposed battery energy storage facility would interconnect with.

Battery energy storage systems are designed to enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released when power is needed most.

The items up for consideration by the planning commission on Dec. 6 are whether to OK environmental findings and recommend approval of a conditional use permit for the project.

The applicant is Chiquito Grid, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hecate Grid LLC. Hecate Grid is jointly owned by Hecate Energy and InfraRed Capital.

According to city documents, the Wildomar project would be in operation for 20 years, with the option of an additional 5 years of continued operation, up to 35 years.

"After completion of 35 years of operations, most of the project’s electrical equipment (breakers, transformers, inverters) would be removed and recycled. Project batteries would be returned to the battery manufacturer for recycling. Equipment foundations and pads would be demolished and removed," according to the city documents.

Hecate will lease the land for the project, according to the documents.

The 6 p.m. Dec. 6 Wildomar Planning Commission meeting takes place at City Hall, 23873 Clinton Keith Road, Suite 106. Click here to read the full meeting agenda.