Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the proposed LS Power Grid California, LLC. (LSPGC) Round Mountain 500 kV Area Dynamic Reactive Support Project (Project). An application for this project was submitted to the CPUC on April 6, 2022 (Application A.22-04-004). This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process.
Introduction
LSPGC, in its CPUC application (A.22-04-004), filed on April 6, 2022, requests a permit to construct a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) Substation (the Fern Road Substation), which would include an approximately +/-529 million volt-amperes, reactive (MVAR) dynamic reactive support facility to include a minimum of two equally sized STATCOM units. The STATCOM units would be located within the new Fern Road Substation and would be independently connected (e.g., looped-in) to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) regional electric transmission system via the Round Mountain – Table Mountain #1 and #2 500 kV transmission lines that are located adjacent to the Project site.
The Project (see Location Map) would be located in east of Fern Road and east of the existing PG&E transmission right-of-way (ROW), approximately 1.6 miles northwest of the unincorporated community of Whitmore and approximately 9.3 miles north of State Highway 44 in unincorporated southern Shasta County. The Project would include interconnection to PG&E’s electrical transmission system via Round Mountain – Table Mountain #1 and #2 500 kV transmission lines, and upgrades to the existing PG&E Round Mountain and Table Mountain substations. The Project work would take place upon lands owned by LSPGC or within PG&E easements. The application includes the Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (PEA) prepared pursuant to Rule 2.4 of the CPUC's Rules of Practice and Procedure.
The purpose of the Project is to ensure reliability of the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) controlled grid. The need for the Project was determined as part of the CAISO Transmission Planning Process. The CAISO 2018-2019 Transmission Plan determined that a dynamic reactive support facility was needed near the Round Mountain Substation to mitigate excessive high voltage and dynamic stability issues.
Current Project Status
The CPUC voted to approve the Project and close the formal proceeding for the PTC application on January 11, 2024. The CPUC’s Decision 24-01-011 was issued on January 11, 2024. On January 23, 2024, LSPGC submitted a Notice to Proceed Request for construction of the Project that was approved by CPUC on January 25, 2024 (see below). Approval of the NTP Request included all project components. Construction began in February of 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in November of 2025.
Construction Progress and Mitigation Monitoring Reporting, Compliance, and Reporting Program
A Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance, and Reporting Program (MMCRP) was approved by the CPUC to ensure compliance with applicant proposed measures and CPUC mitigation measures identified in the Final IS/MND and adopted in Decision 24-01-011. The CPUC, as the lead agency, is responsible for ensuring that the Applicant Proposed Measures, mitigation measures, as well as plans reviewed and approved by other agencies, are implemented throughout the construction phase of the Project. As construction progresses, the Project documents related to mitigation monitoring will be made available for public review.
Mitigation Monitoring, Compliance and Reporting Program (MMCRP)Mitigation Plans
The plans prepared pursuant to the approved MMCRP were submitted by the Applicant and are available below:
Notice to Proceed
LSPGC must obtain a Notice to Proceed (NTP) from the CPUC prior to initiating construction activities in accordance with the procedures outlined in the MMCRP. The NTP request and approval are provided in the table below:
| Description | Date Submitted | Approval Date |
|
| NTP Request | Request of the full Project approval for the construction of the Fern Road Substation containing two static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) units and ancillary components adjacent and independently connected to Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) regional electric transmission system via the Round Mountain – Table Mountain #1 and #2 500 kV transmission lines. | 1/23/2024 | CPUC Approval 1/25/2024 |
Minor Project Refinements
Minor project refinements (MPRs) are strictly limited to changes that will not trigger an additional permit requirement (except local government ministerial permits and associated requirements), do not substantially increase the severity of a previously identified significant impact based on criteria used in the IS/MND, create a new significant impact, are located within the geographic boundary of the study area of the IS/MND, and that do not conflict with any mitigation measure or applicable law or policy. The NTP Request includes one minor Project refinement to provide clarification of its understanding of IS/MND APM AES-2 regarding the use of equipment components with reflective finishes. This minor refinement was approved as part of the NTP.
| Date Submitted | Approval Date | |
| MPR-1 | MPR-1 was approved as part of the NTP | CPUC Approval 1/25/2024 |
| MPR-2 | February 6, 2024 | CPUC Approval 2/14/24 |
| MPR-3 | TBD | TBD |
Quarterly Reports
Consistent with the MMCRP provided above, the Applicant (LS Power) must provide the CPUC with written quarterly reports of the Project to include progress of construction, resulting impacts, mitigation implemented and all other noteworthy elements of the project. Quarterly reports are required as long as the mitigation measures are applicable. Quarterly compliance reports submitted by LS Power will be provided below, once available.
Environmental Review
The CPUC has prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to evaluate the environmental effects of the Round Mountain 500kV Dynamic Reactive Support Project. The table below shows milestones and dates associated with the environmental review process..
| Project Milestones as of May 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Milestone | Date |
| Application and PEA submitted by LSPGC to CPUC | April 6, 2022 |
| Application Deemed Complete by CPUC | May 6, 2022 |
| Publication of Draft IS/MND | May 26, 2023 |
| Public CEQA Review Period (30 days)
|
May 26, 2023 - June 26, 2023 |
| Publication of Final IS/MND | August 30, 2023 | CPUC Adoption of Final IS/MND and Approval of the Project | January 11, 2024 | Notice to Proceed Approval | January 25, 2024 | Start of Construction | February 2024 | Estimated Construction Completion Date | November 2025 |
Availability of the Public Draft IS/MND
Copies of the Public Draft IS/MND were made available for public review at the libraries identified below and on this project website.
| Oak Run Community Library 27668 Oak Run to Fern Rd Oak Run, CA 96069 Phone: (530) 472-1211 |
Shasta Public Libraries - Redding Library 1100 Parkview Ave Redding, CA 96001 Phone: (530) 245-7250 |
Public Comments
The Draft IS/MND was available for public review and comment during the public review period May 26, 2023 – June 26, 2023. The comment period has concluded.
All comments have been addressed in the Final IS/MND.
Documents Available for Review
Public documents related to the CEQA review of the Round Mountain 500 kV Area Dynamic Reactive Support Project can be found here:
Draft Initial Study/ Mitigated Negative Declaration (May 26, 2023)
Notice of Intent (May 26, 2023)
Notice of Completion (May 26, 2023)
Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (August 30, 2023)
Notice of Completion (August 30, 2023)
Notice of Determination (January 12, 2024)
LSPGC Application for a Permit to Construct (PTC) the 500 kV Fern Road Substation (April 6, 2022)
PTC Appendix A: Approved Project Sponsor Agreement (APSA)
PTC Appendix B: Map of the Project
PTC Appendix C: Siting Analysis
PTC Appendix D: Proponent’s Environmental Assessment (see links below)
PTC Appendix E: Electric and Magnetic Fields Management Plan
PTC Appendix F: Form of Notice under Section XI.A of General Order 131-D
PTC Appendix G: Certificates of Formation and Qualification to do Business in California
Amendment to PTC Application (April 14, 2022)
Proponent’s Environmental Assessment PEA (April 6, 2022)
Appendix 1.0-A Figures
Appendix 2.0-A_Public Outreach Report
Appendix 4.03-A_Air Quality Assessment
Appendix 4.04-A_Bio Resources Technical Report
Appendix 4.05-A_Cultural Resources Technical Report
Appendix 4.06-A_Fuels Use Calculations
Appendix 4.07-A_Geotech Engineering Report
Appendix 4.07-B_Paleontological Resources Technical Report
Appendix 4.08-A_GHG Screening Letter
Appendix 4.09-A_Phase 1 ESA
Appendix 4.13-A_Noise Results Memo
Appendix 4.18-A_B_C_D_Tribal Resources
Appendix 4.20-A_Wildfire Behavior Modeling Report
PTC Application Completeness Letter from CPUC(May 6, 2022)
CPUC Data Request 1 (May 31, 2022)
PG&E Response to Data Request 1 (July 6, 2022)
CPUC Data Request 2 (July 15, 2022)
LSPGC Response to Data Request 2 (July 29, 2022)
CPUC Data Request 3 (July 15, 2022)
PG&E Response to Data Request 3 (July 29, 2022)
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
CPUC Data Request 4 (July 25, 2022)
LSPGC Response to Data Request 4 (August 11, 2022)
CPUC Data Request 5 (August 23, 2022)
PG&E Response to Data Request 5 (September 1, 2022)
Attachment 1 CPUC Data Request 6 (July 19, 2023)
LSPGC Response to Data Request 6 (July 26, 2023)
CPUC Data Request 7 (August 1, 2023)
LSPGC Response to Data Request 7 (August 9, 2023)
For Additional Information
The CPUC, through its Environmental Review Team, is managing the environmental review of the Project. To request additional information, or to be added to the mailing list please contact us by email, or phone, as follows:
Project email:
RndMnt@esassoc.com
Project voicemail: (707) 796-7012
The CPUC’s Project Manager is:
Boris Sanchez
California Public Utilities Commission
Energy Division - Infrastructure Permitting & CEQA
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, California 94102