Goleta Energy Storage Project

6864 Cortona Drive; APN: 073-140-027
Case Nos. 24-0008-DP and 24-0003-CUP

Goleta Energy Storage Project - Amended project request and Addendum

 Posted Date: August 2025

On October 25, 2021, the Goleta Planning Commission approved the Development Plan and Conditional Use to allow the development of Goleta Energy Storage LLC’s 60 MegaWatt battery storage project at 6864 Cortona Drive (APN 073-140-031).  The project has been constructed and has been operational since December 2023.  

On August 22, 2024, Laurel Perez of SEPPS Land Use Consultants (“Applicant”) filed an application on behalf of Paul Zavesoff, Goleta Energy Storage, LLC (“Property Owner”) to amend Development Plan Case No. 19-0201-DP and Conditional Use Permit Case No. 19-0202-CUP to install battery augmentation units to the existing Tesla Megapacks located at the project site (“Amended Project”). The Amended Project involves only the placement of augmentation units on the existing concrete pads with no grading required.   The case numbers for the Amended Project are 24-0008-DP and 24-0003-CUP. 

The Amended Project involves the installation of up to 132 battery augmentation units to the existing Tesla Megapacks located at the approved Goleta Energy Storage Project site. The augmentation units would be installed on existing concrete pads immediately adjacent to the existing Megapacks, with no grading required. The installation of the 132 Powerpack units would occur in installments of up to 40 units placed at a time, with each installment lasting a maximum of 30 days. The installation of Powerpack units under the Amended Project would include: 
• Anchoring of augmentation units on existing foundations;
• Anchoring of power supply cabinets on existing foundations; and
• Connecting low-voltage electrical cables between power supply cabinets, augmentation units, and existing equipment.

The installation of the augmentation units was previously contemplated for the Approved Project, but the units were not included nor analyzed in the Approved Project’s CEQA review. An Addendum has been prepared to evaluate the Amended Project. An Addendum is appropriate when proposed project modifications do not result in new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified impacts. An Addendum to the Goleta Energy Storage (GES) Project Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code §§21000, et seq.) and CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, §§ 15000, et seq.).  

Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164(c), public review of the Addendum is not required but can be included in or attached to the adopted MND. The Addendum provides the necessary documentation demonstrating that the proposed changes do not meet the criteria for the preparation of a subsequent MND or Environmental Impact Report. The Addendum finds that the Amended Project would not result in any new impacts or substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant impacts already addressed in the previously adopted Final MND. 

Addendum to the Final MND for Goleta Energy Storage

Appendices:

Appendix A to Addendum -Final Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
Appendix B to Addendum - Hazards Analysis and Risk Assessment
Appendix C to Addendum - Noise and Acoustics Technical Study, Peer Review, and Response to Peer Review

On August 25, 2025, the Planning Commission will consider the Applicant’s Amended Project request and the associated Addendum for action.  The hybrid meeting will commence at 6:00 pm and will be held in the Goleta Council Chamber located at 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta. For information regarding how to attend or participate in the meeting please see the notice here.  

Goleta Energy Storage Project
Final Mitigated Negative Declaration

6864 and 6868 Cortona Drive; APN: 073-140-027
Case No. 19-0201-DP, 19-0202-DPAM, 19-0202-CUP, 19-0001-SUB

Posted Date: September 29, 2021

Laurel Perez of Suzanne Elledge Planning and Permitting Services (SEPPS) on behalf of Goleta Energy Storage, LLC has requested approval of a new 60 mega-watt lithium ion Energy Storage Facility.  The applications associated with the proposal include a Tentative Parcel Map, Conditional Use Permit, a Development Plan, and a Development Plan Amendment with associated adjustment to the landscaping development standard per Section 17.59.040 of Title 17 of the Goleta Municipal Code.  The project description and location are provided below. The City has completed a Draft Initial Study/Draft Mitigation Negative Declaration and circulated the document for public review commencing on June 18, 2021 and concluding on July 19, 2021 at 5pm.  Public comments received have been incorporated into the Final MND.

The Goleta Energy Storage project includes:

1. Proposed Conditional Use Permit and Development Plan for the development and operation of a 60-megawatt lithium-ion battery energy facility containing energy storage cabinets (Megapacks) manufactured by Tesla along with supporting equipment such as transformers, inverters and other electrical distribution equipment. Each megapack has pre-installed energy storage components that are contained in a steel cabinet enclosure. The current design includes the installation of up to 62 Megapacks. The project also includes an on-site electrical substation with a transformer, and the construction of an underground connection (tie line) to the existing SCE Isla Vista substation located west of and adjacent to Storke Road, approximately 300 feet west of the project site.  The underground tie line would be constructed using directional drilling beneath the Storke Road right-of-way.
2. Proposed Tentative Parcel Map to divide the existing 5.88-acre project site parcel into two lots.  Proposed Lot 1 would be addressed as 6864 Cortona Drive, be 2.66 gross acres in size, and be used for the Goleta Energy Storage Project. Proposed Lot 2 would be addressed as 6868 Cortona Drive and be 3.22 gross acres in size,  An existing 60,068 square foot research and development building located within the boundaries of proposed Lot 2 would be retained. The existing research and development building was initially developed via an As-Built Development Plan, Case No. 04-35-DP.
3. Proposed Development Plan Amendment to 04-35-DP and a proposed Adjustment to a landscaping development standard is associated with the existing development (60,068 square foot research and development building) located on proposed Lot 2.
4. The proposed Goleta Energy Storage facility would be accessed from Cortona Drive along two proposed reciprocal access easements over proposed Lot 2.

The project site is approximately 5.88 gross acres and is located at 6864 and 6868 Cortona Drive.  The Assessor’s Parcel Number is 073-140-027. The project site is located in the Inland area of the City, has a Business Park (I-BP) land use designation and is zoned Business Park (BP). 

• Notice of Adoption of a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Planning Commission Hearing on October 25, 2021
  continued from Planning Commission Hearing of October 11, 2021 due to lack of a quorum of the Planning Commission
• Notice of Adoption of a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Planning Commission Hearing on October 11, 2021
• Notice of Availability of a Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (Notice Date: June 18, 2021)

IN LIGHT OF THE CITY'S NEED TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ELECTRONICALLY AND TELEPHONICALLY DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, written comments may be submitted as instructed above or to Deborah Lopez, City Clerk via e-mail: dlopez@cityofgoleta.org or by electronic means during the Public Hearing (date and time noted above), provided they are received prior to the conclusion of the public comment portion of the Public Hearing. Instructions on how to submit written comments during the hearing will be available on the City’s website:  www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

Comments or questions regarding the project and/or review process can be directed to Kathy Allen, Supervising Senior Planner at kallen@cityofgoleta.org, or by phone at 805-961-7545

Documents:

Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Appendices (September 2021):

• Final IS-MND and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP)
• Attachment 1    Project Plans
• Attachment 2    Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Modeling Results
• Attachment 3    Biological Resources Assessment 
• Attachment 4    Geotechnical Engineering Report
• Attachment 5    Supplemental Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Modeling Results
• Attachment 6    Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) - Report
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendices A-C
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (1 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (2 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (3 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (4 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (5 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (6 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (7 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix D Local Agency Records (8 of 8)
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix E - Site Photos
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendices F-I - Historical Aerial Photos
• Attachment 6    ESA - Appendix J - Regulatory Database Search Report
• Attachment 7    Hazards Analysis and Risk Assessment
• Attachment 8    Risk Assessment Peer Review Comments
• Attachment 9    Drainage Analysis
•  Attachment 10 Storm Water Control Plan
• Attachment  11 Noise Memorandum 
• Attachment 12 Acoustical (Noise)  Analysis Peer Review 
• Attachment 13 Outdoor Lighting Guidelines (Design Review Board)
• Attachment 14 Traffic and Parking Assessment
• Attachment 15 Biological Technical Report Addendum

Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (June 2021)

• Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration dated June 2021
• Note: Draft MND Appendices 1-14 did not change following public review and are linked above.