NIGHTHAWK BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
Addendum to the FEIR/SEIRs
Specific Plan Amendment to the South Poway
Specific Plan (SPSP) SPA 22
-
0002
Development Review DR 22
-
0001
Community Benefit Agreement
Applicant:
Nighthawk Energy Storage, LLC
Nighthawk Vicinity Map
Nighthawk Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Nighthawk BESS Site
Proposed Nighthawk BESS Facility
Proposed Nighthawk BESS Facility
Pre—Development Conference (PDC) February 15, 2022 (City Council meeting):
• Concerns raised: overhead lines and poles through environmentally sensitive areas, fire safety, impacts to property values and lack of community benefits.
Neighborhood Meeting: February 28, 2023 (City Council Chambers):
• Concerns raised: noise and safety
Revisions to the Project resulting from comments:
• Underground transmission line (instead of overhead)
• 12’ Fire Wall
• Newer, safer battery technology (Lithium Iron Phosphate instead of Lithium Ion) • New fire safety protocols (better sensor technology, cameras, 24/7 monitoring, automatic shutoffs, temperature controls, etc.)
• Community Benefit Agreement
Proposed Nighthawk Facility – PDC and Neighborhood Meetings Proposed Nighthawk BESS Facility – Fire Prevention Plan • Fuel Management Zones expanded from the typical
100 feet perimeter to 260 feet shown on the map in
RED
• Increased height from 8 feet to the allowable 12 feet for the fire-rated perimeter wall, earth toned
• A public water main loop with fire hydrants
surrounding the facility
• The Project uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)
batteries, which are more stable than of Lithium-Ion
batteries
• A 24/7 fire protection system, including temperature
sensors, remote monitoring, and infrared cameras to
automatically shut down and prevent the spread of
fire to other battery storage modules
Proposed Nighthawk BESS Facility – Community Benefit
Agreement
If approved, the Agreement provides:
• A guaranteed minimum of $3.5 million in total sales and use tax revenue • A guaranteed minimum of $6.5 million in total property tax revenue over the 20-year term of project operation
• A one-time $2 million “Community Benefit Fund” within 90 days of receiving the permits • Minimum contribution of $10,000 per year for the life of the project to civic organizations operating within the City of Poway
• In the event a fire occurs on the project property at any time during the construction, maintenance, operation or decommissioning of the project, the Applicant will reimburse the City for all incident management costs incurred
Addendum to Final Environmental Impact Report
The Addendum studied all relevant CEQA components: aesthetics, air quality, biology, cultural resources, energy, geology, greenhouse gases, hazardous materials, hydrology, land use, noise, public services, transportation, utilities, and fire.
FINDINGS:
1. Does not result in additional significant impacts previously identified.
2. Does not increase the severity of impacts previously identified.
3. Does not require any new or additional mitigation measures beyond those identified in the original FEIR completed for the South Poway Specific Plan and the Supplemental EIRs Errata:
Reduction in biological impacts within the City of San Diego jurisdiction Discussion
Recommendation:
• Take public comment and close the public hearing
• Adopt the Resolution to approve the Addendum to the certified SPSP EIR and SEIRs
• Introduce the Ordinance approving SPA 22-0002 for first reading by title only, waive further reading, and schedule the adoption for the next regularly scheduled meeting
• Adopt the Resolution approving DR 22-0001
• Adopt the Resolution approving the Community Benefit Agreement