BEI tops out one of California’s largest energy storage projects

California Construction News staff writer

BEI Construction, Inc. (BEI) says it is nearing completion of the new energy storage facility in Porterville and topped out one of the largest energy storage projects in California.

BEI is concurrently building utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) at three locations – in Porterville, Rancho Cucamonga, and Long Beach.

The new substations will maximize reliability of the grid by charging during periods of excess generation and discharge during periods of need. Collectively and when complete, the three-site project will add a total of 537.5 MW/ 2.15 GWh to the grid, enough stored energy to power roughly 537,500 homes in Southern California for four hours.

BEI was contracted by Ameresco and began construction on the three separate sites in April 2022. The utility-scale energy storage project includes the construction of new substations, electrical, civil, all site work and foundations for the battery packs, grid integration, as well as start-up and commissioning.

“Our partners are an essential part of our success. They recognize the significance of this project for the state and have consistently stepped up to the plate to achieve this shared milestone,” said Dominic DiMare, Principal at BEI.

BEI is signatory to IBEW Locals 11, 100, 47, and 477, and employs union labor on all jobs.

The development of these three locations is in part a result of Governor Newsom’s emergency proclamation to accelerate the rapid deployment of new clean energy and storage projects.

The three-site energy storage project is on schedule to complete by the end of 2022.

“This energy storage project highlights the necessity to improve grid reliability. I’m proud of our team for living up to the reputation BEI has built for innovation and building state-of-the-art clean energy technology,” DiMare said in a statement. “Together with SCE and Ameresco, we’re building to affect positive change.”