Vidal Solar Interconnection Project, DOE/EA-2170

​​​About the Project​

The Vidal Solar Interconnection Project (Project) is a proposal by CDH Vidal LLC to construct a 160 MW solar photovoltaic generating facility and a 160 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on 1,220-acres of privately-owned lands in San Bernardino County, California (see map, parcels depicted in blue (PDF)​). In October 2021, CDH Vidal LLC submitted a request to Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to interconnect its proposed facility to WAPA’s Headgate Rock to Blythe (HDR-BLY) 161-kilovolt (kV) transmission line. In order to potentially interconnect the Project, WAPA would need to construct a new switchyard and associated interconnection facilities adjacent to the Project and the existing HDR-BLY line (see map, interconnection would occur within red-circled area (PDF)​). WAPA’s proposed interconnection switchyard would be located near the vicinity of HDR-BLY structure 25/4.

In response to the interconnection request, WAPA determined it is appropriate to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the environmental effects of the Project and meet WAPA’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

The Project scope previously included upgrading WAPA’s communication equipment along the entirety of the approximately 52-mile HDR-BLY transmission line by replacing the existing overhead grounding wire with new fiber optic grounding wire. After further coordination it was determined that microwave would be used as the primary form of communication. This eliminates the required fiber optic upgrades between Headgate Rock and Blythe Substations. The Project scope no longer includes installing 52 miles of new overhead fiber optic grounding wire fiber optic wire along the HDR-BLY transmission line. For more details, see the Revised P​roject Scope Memo​ (PDF).

​Project Features

CDH Vidal LLC plans to build, operate, and maintain up to a 160 MW photovoltaic solar energy facility and a 160 MW BESS facility.  Construction of these facilities includes the following components:

  • Installing solar panel arrays on 1,220 acres of land
  • Installing underground collection lines from each panel to a collection point substation
  • ​Installing the battery storage facility which would consist of battery storage containers, inverters/transformers, communications equipment, switchgear, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units
  • Creating access roads within the facility for construction and maintenance
  • Constructing an on-site collection point substation, and
  • Installing and maintaining an on-site interconnection facility to the existing Headgate Rock-Blythe 161-kV transmission line​

​Current Status​​​

WAPA released the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in December 2024.

Contact Information

Abigail Wilmington, Environmental Project Manager
Civil Design & Engineering Inc. (CD&E) on contract to
Western Area Power Administration, Desert Southwest Region
Phone: (480) 790-3282
Email:  Wilmington@wapa.gov

​Documents

Final Environmental Assessment

Draft Environmental Assessment

​Scoping

​Other Project Documents

Last modified on April 28th, 2025