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The California Energy Commission (CEC) has approved the Soda Mountain Solar and Battery Storage Project, a large-scale renewable energy development in San Bernardino County with an estimated investment of around $700 million USD.

The project combines up to 300MW of solar photovoltaic generation with a 300MW / 1,200MWh battery energy storage system, making it one of the more significant hybrid clean energy facilities approved in California under the state’s Opt-In Certification program.

Located in the Mojave Desert region on approximately 2,670 acres of federal land, the project is designed to increase renewable energy supply while improving grid stability through large-scale energy storage. Once operational, the facility will store excess solar power generated during daylight hours and dispatch it during peak demand periods, helping balance California’s increasingly renewable-heavy electricity system.

State regulators expect the development to support California’s long-term target of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2045, while also improving grid reliability as fossil fuel generation continues to be phased out. The inclusion of battery storage is considered critical to managing variability from solar and wind resources across the state.

The project is also expected to generate around 200 construction jobs and approximately 40 permanent operational roles, along with broader economic benefits for the San Bernardino region. Developers have also committed to community benefit measures, including environmental and local support initiatives.

The approval comes amid a broader acceleration of renewable energy permitting in California, where utility-scale solar and battery storage projects are increasingly central to the state’s energy transition strategy. The CEC’s streamlined approval pathway continues to play a key role in bringing large infrastructure projects online more quickly while maintaining environmental oversight.

Source: energy.ca