Vacant 9.7-acre parcel directly adjoining Southern California Edison’s Phelan Substation in San Bernardino County, California. Advanced-stage utility-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) development opportunity with potential access to SCE 115-kV infrastructure serving the Victor Valley / High Desert reliability corridor.
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Phelan Substation
Utility-Scale Battery Energy Storage Development Opportunity
Location: Adjacent to Southern California Edison’s Phelan Substation
Utility: Southern California Edison (SCE)
Jurisdiction: San Bernardino County, California
Parcel Size: Approximately 9.7 acres
Zoning: Service Commercial (CS)
Entitlement Status: County pre-application review completed
Use Potential: Utility-scale standalone BESS and related utility infrastructure subject to Conditional Use Permit approval
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Why This Site Matters
115-kV High Desert Storage Platform
The property directly adjoins the SCE Phelan Substation and offers immediate proximity to multiple voltage classes, including:
• 12-kV distribution infrastructure
• 33-kV subtransmission infrastructure
• 115-kV transmission/subtransmission infrastructure
The 115-kV system includes circuits interconnected toward SCE’s Victor Substation and broader Southern California reliability network, creating potential pathways for larger utility-scale storage development.
Potential utility-scale RA opportunity
The site may support medium- to utility-scale standalone battery storage configurations, including potential 4-hour Resource Adequacy (RA) applications subject to interconnection review.
The parcel appears physically capable of supporting large-scale BESS deployment in the 200–400+ MWh range depending on final engineering, technology selection, setbacks, and interconnection configuration.
Advanced-stage entitlement candidate
Substantial early-stage permitting and environmental work has already been completed, materially reducing development uncertainty.
Completed investigations include:
• biological assessment with no sensitive biological resource findings
• cultural resources assessment with no significant cultural findings
• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment with no recognized environmental conditions
San Bernardino County pre-application review confirmed that utility-scale BESS is an allowable use within the existing Commercial land use designation subject to CUP approval.
No General Plan Amendment or rezoning identified.
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Strategic High Desert Location
The Phelan node remains relatively underbuilt compared with many California storage locations and functions as part of the broader Victor Valley / High Desert electrical system.
The property offers:
• direct substation adjacency
• short potential gen-tie pathways
• flat developable land
• paved road access from Johnson Road
• proximity to growing Southern California load-serving infrastructure
Compared with many California energy development sites, the project benefits from a substantially narrowed anticipated CEQA scope focused primarily on:
• visual analysis
• operational noise
• lighting
• standard air quality and engineering studies
• hazard management review
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Interconnection / Development Considerations
Based on preliminary interconnection review and SCE Cluster 15 findings:
• reviewed 115-kV discharge scenarios did not identify major overload-related discharge constraints
• charging constraints appear concentrated during summer daytime peak periods
• significantly greater charging availability exists overnight and during early morning hours
• overnight charging profiles may support larger 4-hour BESS systems than an initial surface-level review might suggest
Potential development pathways may include:
• utility-scale standalone BESS
• Resource Adequacy-oriented storage
• merchant storage
• grid reliability / non-wires applications
• future hybrid storage configurations
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County Review Status
San Bernardino County pre-application review completed.
County review identified a focused permitting pathway centered primarily on:
• visual impact analysis
• operational noise analysis
• hazard management / fire safety review
• standard drainage and engineering review
Estimated County review timeline:
approximately 210–300 days depending on application completeness and technical studies.
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Offering
9.7-acre substation-adjacent parcel offered for:
• sale
• long-term ground lease
• or joint venture participation
Preliminary interconnection analysis, County review documents, biological assessment, cultural resources assessment, and Phase I ESA materials available during due diligence period.
Please note: Seller is engaging only with parties evaluating the opportunity at a transaction or active due diligence level, including pricing, structure, interconnection evaluation, or development review.
Additional California substation-adjacent energy development opportunities available.
Roy McDonald
Roy McDonald LLC
