416 1/2 W Donlon St
Blythe, CA 92225

Vacant 6.05-acre parcel adjacent to SCE Blythe (City) Substation, Blythe, CA. Utility-Scale Standalone BESS development site.
________________________________________
Blythe (City) Substation
Merchant Battery Storage with Upgrade Upside
Location: Immediately adjacent to Southern California Edison’s Blythe (City) Substation
Utility: Southern California Edison
Jurisdiction: City of Blythe, Riverside County, CA
Parcel Size: ~6.05 acres
Zoning: Industrial (utility uses permitted)
Use Potential: Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and utility-related infrastructure (by-right allowed use under current zoning, subject to City ministerial approvals)
________________________________________
Why This Site Matters
True substation-adjacent site
The parcel sits directly adjacent to the Blythe (City) Substation—no meaningful gen-tie distance, minimizing interconnection complexity relative to off-site parcels.
Constrained node = immediate merchant opportunity
Interconnection analysis indicates limited charging availability during peak summer daytime periods. This creates a classic merchant storage profile:
• off-peak / overnight charging
• solar-assisted charging strategies
• time-shifting into high-value peak periods
Supports long-duration storage strategies
The constrained, solar-heavy grid profile may favor longer-duration storage (4–8 hours), allowing operators to capture extended price spreads and provide additional grid services.
Solar-heavy regional grid
The Blythe / Colorado River corridor is heavily penetrated with utility-scale solar, reinforcing long-term demand for storage to manage midday oversupply.
Barrier to entry for others
Grid constraints and infrastructure limitations may discourage less experienced developers, creating opportunity for merchant-focused operators.
________________________________________
Interconnection / Merchant + Upgrade Strategy
33-kV interconnection pathway
The substation includes 33-kV infrastructure currently serving local generation.
Charging constraints define near-term strategy
Prior analysis indicates:
• minimal daytime charging capacity in summer months
• improved charging availability during off-peak / nighttime periods
This profile supports merchant BESS strategies focused on arbitrage and solar oversupply capture.
Potential 33-kV feeder expansion
There is increasing basis for Southern California Edison to add an additional 33-kV feeder from the Blythe (WALC) Substation to support system needs.
If implemented, this could:
• increase charging capacity at Blythe (City)
• improve project economics
• enable larger or more flexible storage configurations
Two-phase development opportunity
This creates a potential strategy:
• Phase 1: merchant BESS under current constraints
• Phase 2: expanded operation as grid upgrades are implemented
________________________________________
Existing Development Context
The Blythe region is one of California’s most active solar development corridors, with:
• multiple utility-scale solar projects
• ongoing interconnection activity
• increasing need for storage to balance generation
This supports long-term storage deployment despite near-term constraints.
________________________________________
Permitting / Due Diligence Advantages
BESS allowed use
Battery storage is a by-right allowed use under the City of Blythe industrial zoning framework.
Substation adjacency simplifies permitting
Location adjacent to existing utility infrastructure reduces land-use conflicts.
Previously disturbed site
The parcel is cleared and graded with no biological or cultural resources present.
Clean environmental profile
Phase I and II environmental reports conclude no hazardous materials.
________________________________________
Site Advantages
Zero-distance substation adjacency
No long gen-tie required.
Industrial zoning
Supports utility-scale energy development.
Two street frontages
Flexible access for construction, operation, and fire protection.
Flat, buildable parcel
Efficient site layout for BESS deployment.
Strategic energy corridor location
Located within a high-activity solar and transmission region.
________________________________________
Example Development Potential
Example configurations subject to interconnection and permitting review:
Example Configuration	Storage Capacity
10 MW / 40 MWh	Targeted merchant storage
20 MW / 80 MWh	Mid-scale arbitrage storage
30 MW / 120 MWh	Utility-scale storage (4-hour)
30 MW / 240 MWh	Long-duration storage (8-hour)
________________________________________
Offering
6.05-acre substation-adjacent merchant BESS development site offered for sale, lease, or joint venture.
Guidance range:
$750,000 – $950,000
Developers experienced in merchant storage, long-duration storage, or staged development strategies are encouraged to inquire.
Additional information available upon request, including interconnection-related analysis and environmental documentation.
Other substation-adjacent California energy development sites available.