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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a controversial solar power and battery storage project for the unincorporated desert community of Boulevard, despite concerns from residents who argued clean energy projects put their safety at risk.
First proposed by the developer in 2022, Starlight Solar will industrialize about 588 acres near Old Highway 80 in unincorporated East County. The project includes a solar farm capable of generating up to 100 megawatts and a 217-megawatt battery energy storage system, constructed in two phases.
County leaders voted unanimously to approve the project, with several amendments to address residents’ concerns — though not all of their concessions were met.
Officials cited concerns that state energy regulators could greenlight the project if the county denied the proposal, noting state approval likely wouldn’t include benefits for the community.
That sentiment is shared by locals who have advocated against the development. While opponents of Starlight Solar have reiterated their support for renewable energy, they also say the backcountry has become a “sacrifice zone” for clean energy projects.
“We’ve learned over the years what happens when we say no to a development project,” Anthony Ralphs, a member of the Boulevard planning group, said. “The development project happens anyway and the affected community is often left out of important safety discussions.”
The county’s approval will require baseline groundwater monitoring and testing for water quality and levels ahead of construction, with additional testing and remediation if a fire occurs.
Officials also directed the developer to pursue funding through the Disadvantaged Communities Green Tariffs Program to provide additional benefits to the community, prior to construction.
Their recommendations did not require the developer to relocate the project’s phase two battery storage facility from its original northern location. Residents of Boulevard have pushed to relocate the battery storage farther south, primarily due to fire safety and evacuation concerns.
The project is the latest in a series of utility-scale renewable energy developments transforming East County’s rural backcountry. It will join many existing solar, wind and battery facilities in nearby unincorporated communities, such as JVR Energy in Jacumba.
While opponents of Starlight Solar secured some concessions — including groundwater monitoring, community benefits and additional fire safeguards — they urged the board not to approve the project at all, noting the county is actively drafting its own regulations for battery storage facilities.
“The reality is, no one knows the details because this is new technology and this is an extreme risk,” said Thomas Wall, a 10-year resident of Boulevard.
Fire risk is not hypothetical in the case of Starlight Solar, he said.
Boulevard has experienced three wildfires in the last 90 days, which opponents said only underscores the need for further evaluation before one of the state’s largest battery storage energy systems is added to the desert town’s landscape.
The town is designated a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone by CAL Fire, and opponents say it is nearly guaranteed Starlight’s battery system will catch fire over its 30-year operating life.
Battery fires are particularly hazardous. A single overheated unit can spread flames to adjacent ones, creating a fire that can burn for days, is resistant to water suppression and releases toxic gas.
The developer agreed to a labor agreement that will ensure the use of local union workers for the project’s construction. The benefit agreement will fund renovation of Boulevard’s resource center, which is estimated to cost $903,579.
The board’s approval also requires the developer to provide a community benefits package at a rate of $22,114 per megawatt, equal to about $6.2 million total. The fund is intended to go toward paying for a portion of Boulevard residents’ electricity bills, and other locally determined uses.
“This is hard, we obviously need reliable, affordable electricity,” Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said. “All these projects have problems, and they each have varying degrees of risk. I think that’s what we’re really grappling with today.”
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