Central Valley Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Environmental Documents

The proposed Central Valley PV/BESS Project would allow the Authority to operate the HSR Initial Operating Segment on renewable energy through solar generation and battery storage on Authority-owned property. The PV would produce the electrical energy to power the system while the BESS would reduce peak-demand during normal train operations and provide electrical energy backup in the event of an outage. Staff are currently evaluating potential sites and seeking public input on the scope of the environmental document.

Map of proposed PV/BESS locations. Click for a larger image.

PV/BESS Scoping Meetings Flyer (English)PDF Document
PV/BESS Scoping Meetings Flyer (Spanish)PDF Document

PROJECT DETAILS

The Authority is in the process of preparing an environmental document for building, operating, and maintaining a Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System (PV/BESS) Project in Merced, Fresno, Kings, and Kern Counties for the California High-Speed Rail System.

The Merced to Fresno Project Section EIR/EIS (2012) and the Fresno to Bakersfield Project Section EIR/EIS (2014) previously evaluated and approved construction, operation, and maintenance of traction power substations (TPSS) along the Central Valley alignment to provide power for the high-speed rail system.

The proposed PV/BESS Project will connect to the associated TPSS sites and be located adjacent to the HSR alignment within 2 to 11 miles from each TPSS.

To learn more about the PV/BESS project and to provide input on the scope of the Central Valley PV/BESS Project EIR/EIS, join the Authority at one of the following three public scoping meetings:

Fresno
March 11, 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
California High-Speed Rail Authority, Fresno Board Room
1111 H Street, Fresno, CA 93721

Wasco
March 12, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Wasco Veterans Hall (Room 1)
1202 Poplar Avenue, Wasco, CA 93280

Hanford
March 13, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Hanford Civic Auditorium
400 N Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230

Spanish, Hmong, and ASL interpretation will be available. All requests for reasonable accommodation must be made 72 hours before the meeting date. For additional information, please contact us at (916) 324-1541.

For a listing of all upcoming events and outreach opportunities in your area visit the Events page.

On February 18, 2025, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Central Valley Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage System Project. The purpose is to initiate scoping to solicit input on the environmental document for the PV/BESS project.

The Authority also intends to publish a Notice of Intent (NOI) for initiating public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) needed for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Ultimately, the Authority intends to publish a joint EIR/EIS document.

Comments on the scope of the Central Valley PV/BESS Project EIR/EIS may be submitted between February 19, 2025, and April 8, 2025. Comments submitted during this period will be considered in the development of the Draft EIR/EIS. There are several ways to submit a comment regarding the scope of the Central Valley PV/BESS Project EIR/EIS, including:

Online: https://hsr.ca.gov/central-valley-photovoltaic-battery-energy-storage-system-notice-of-preparation-public-comment-form/
Email: Address to pv-bess@hsr.ca.gov with the subject line “Central Valley PV/BESS Scoping Comment”
By Phone: (559) 425-4438
By Mail: Address to Stefan Galvez-Abadia, Director of Environmental Services, ATTN: Central Valley PV/BESS Scoping Comment, California High-Speed Rail Authority, 770 L Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried out by the State of California pursuant to 23 U.S.C. section 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding (renewed July 22, 2024) and executed by the Federal Railroad Administration and the State of California.

El 18 de febrero de 2025, la Autoridad de Trenes de Alta Velocidad de California (Autoridad) emitió un Aviso de Preparación (NOP) en virtud de la Ley de Calidad Ambiental de California (CEQA) para el Informe de Impacto Ambiental/Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (EIR/EIS) para el Proyecto del Sistema de Almacenamiento de Energía Fotovoltaica y de Baterías en el Valle Central. El propósito es iniciar la evaluación del alcance para solicitar aportes sobre el documento ambiental para el proyecto PV/BESS.

La Autoridad también tiene la intención de publicar un Aviso de Intención (NOI) para iniciar el alcance público bajo la Ley de Política Ambiental Nacional (NEPA) necesaria para preparar la Declaración de Impacto Ambiental (EIS). En última instancia, la Autoridad tiene la intención de publicar un documento conjunto EIR/EIS.

Los comentarios sobre el alcance del EIR/EIS del Proyecto PV/BESS del Valle Central se pueden enviar entre el 19 de febrero de 2025 y el 8 de abril de 2025. Los comentarios enviados durante este período se considerarán en el desarrollo del Borrador del EIR/EIS. Hay varias maneras de enviar un comentario sobre el alcance del EIR/EIS del Proyecto PV/BESS del Valle Central, que incluyen:

En línea: https://hsr.ca.gov/central-valley-photovoltaic-battery-energy-storage-system-notice-of-preparation-public-comment-form/
Correo electrónico: Escribir al pv-bess@hsr.ca.gov y poner como línea de asunto “Central Valley PV/BESS Scoping Comment”
Por teléfono: (559) 425-4438
Por correo postal: Stefan Galvez-Abadia, Director of Environmental Services, ATTN: Central Valley PV/BESS Scoping Comment, California High-Speed Rail Authority, 770 L Street, Suite 620, Sacramento, CA 95814

La revisión ambiental, la consulta y otras acciones requeridas por las leyes ambientales federales aplicables para este proyecto están siendo o han sido llevadas a cabo por el Estado de California de conformidad con 23 U.S.C. sección 327 y un Memorando de Entendimiento (renovado el 22 de julio de 2024) y ejecutado por la Administración Federal de Ferrocarriles y el Estado de California.

The Authority is committed to keeping stakeholders and the public up-to-date on the high-speed rail program and the latest happenings in the regions. 

To sign up for project section updates, visit the Contact Us page and select Northern California, Central Valley, or Southern California for the information you would like.

The Authority has issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) to solicit public and agency input into the development of the scope of an environmental impact report (EIR) for the Central Valley PV/BESS Project and to advise the public that the Authority will consider public and agency input it receives in the preparation of the environmental document.

The Authority also intends to issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) for initiating public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and needed for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Ultimately, the Authority intends to publish a joint EIR/EIS document.

This project level EIR/EIS will describe site-specific environmental impacts, will identify specific mitigation measures to address those impacts, and will incorporate design practices to avoid and minimize potential adverse environmental impacts. The Authority will assess the site characteristics, size, nature, and timing of proposed site-specific projects to determine whether impacts can be avoided or mitigated. The EIR/EIS will identify and evaluate the impacts from construction, operation, and maintenance of the Central Valley PV/BESS Project.

Comments may be sent by the below phone number or email address.

(559) 425-4438
pv-bess@hsr.ca.gov

Visit the Contact Us page to sign up for e-mail alerts and for additional contact information.

Project Section Details

Select a project section to learn more:

San Francisco to San Jose San Jose to Merced Merced to Sacramento Merced to Fresno Merced to Fresno - Central Valley Wye Fresno to Bakersfield Fresno to Bakersfield - Locally Generated Alternative Bakersfield to Palmdale Palmdale to Burbank Burbank to Los Angeles Los Angeles to Anaheim Los Angeles to San Diego

CONTACT

Environmental
(916) 324-1541
info@hsr.ca.gov

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