Sterling Solar 2 Interconnection Project, DOE/EA-2141

​​About the project

​Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the environmental effects of the Sterling Solar 2 Photovoltaic Interconnection Project in which Sterling Solar, LLC, has submitted an interconnection request ​​​​to interconnect their proposed Sterling Solar 2 Photovoltaic Interconnection Project to WAPA’s existing Topock-Black Mesa 230-kilovolt (kV) electrical transmission line in Mohave County, Arizona.  The proposed Sterling Solar 2 Photovoltaic Interconnection Project would involve the construction of a 225-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic solar energy facility and a battery storage facilities​ component to be located on a 2,219-acre parcel of private land.  Sterling Solar 2, LLC’s facilities are not part of WAPA’s Federal action, but their potential indirect impacts/effects will be presented alongside that of the Federal action as part of a comprehensive analysis in a Draft Environmental Assessment.​​​

​​Project features

​Sterling Solar, LLC plans to build, operate, and maintain up to a 225-MW photovoltaic solar energy generation and battery storage facilities.  Construction would include the following project components:

• ​Installing solar panels up to 2,219 acres of land;
• Installing underground collection lines from each panel to the Sterling Solar 1 substation;
• Creating access roads within the facility for construction and maintenance; and
• Connection to the planned Sterling Solar 1 substation or if not built, construction of an new on-site substation.

​Current status​

March 2021:  WAPA has completed its environmental review process of the proposed Project and has decided to approve the request for interconnection onto the transmission system operated and managed by WAPA.  The​ Final Environmental Assessment and the Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) have been issued and can be found in the DOCUMENTS section below.  The next step for the Project would be to enter into a Large Generator Interconnection Agreement with WAPA as well as implementing the Project-related transmission system upgrades.

If you need further information related to WAPA’s environmental review, please contact Andrew M Montaño via the contact information below:

​Email:montano@wapa.gov​
Phone: (720) 962-7253 ​

​Documents​

• Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) (March 2021)
• Final Environmental Assessment (Final EA) (March 2021)​
• Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) (October 2020)
• Posterboard Presentation of Findings within the Draft EA (October 2020)
• Postcard Announcement of the Draft EA to the Public (October 2020)
• Letter to the Public (July 2020)
• Project Map (June 2020)
• Determination to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (November 2019​​)