One Hundred and Seven MW Solar Project Approved as 40 Acres of Location in Riverside County, California – Air Quality Matters
Palm Springs, California. – today [Mar. 14, 2025] The Bureau of Land Administration freed up U.S. energy by approving the sapphire Gen-tie transmission line and facility projects on approximately 40 acres of public land east of Riverside County. EDF Renewables Development, Inc. Authorized to build, operate, maintain, and eventually decommission a transmission line and related facilities to connect the planned sapphire solar photovoltaic and storage facilities on private land to the grid.
“The Bureau of Land Management supports the U.S. energy advantages, prioritizing the needs of U.S. households and businesses,” said Joe Stout, BLM California Director.
The Sapphire Solar Project is consistent with the Secretary’s 3417 Order to address the national energy emergency by supporting the integrity of the grid while creating jobs and economic prosperity for Americans.
The related sapphire solar project is planned to be built on private land and represents nearly $262 million in infrastructure investment from the community that will create 250 construction jobs and then create 12 operational positions to operate the facility. Once in operation, the project will transmit and store up to 117 megawatts of solar energy every day.
Sapphire’s transmission lines and facilities will be built on land on designated lands in the development focus area in the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Program, a landscape-level program that simplifies renewable energy development while protecting unique and valuable desert ecosystems and providing outdoor recreation opportunities. Additional information and related documents can be found on the BLM National NEPA Register.
Source: “BLM Approved Sapphire Gen-tie Transmission Lines and Facilities”, March 14, 2025, Land Administration Press Release.
Feature image above and corresponding homepage: BLM (Land Administration)
