By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  proposed Starlight Solar site, via County of San Diego

April 4, 2026 (Boulevard) – Should a 588-acre solar project with one of the state’s largest battery energy storage sites be built near rural Boulevard, a small town located in a very high fire hazard zone?  The County Planning Commission may vote May 8 on the Starlight Solar project, which supporters say is needed to help meet state and county green energy mandates.

East County News Service

April 1, 2023 (Boulevard) – The Boulevard Community Planning Group will hold a public scoping hearing Wednesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. on the proposed 565-acre Starlight Solar project. County staff will present information and public comments will be accepted at the hearing at the Backcountry Resource Center,39919 Ribbonwood Rd., Boulevard (in the old fire station equipment bay).

It would be located south of I-8 and Old Highway 80 and east of Tierra Del Sol Road.  The project has proposed eight solar array areas with approximately 300,000 PV modules on support structures. It would connect to the Boulevard Substation.

The proposed 100 megawatt industrial-scale solar facility would include a battery energy storage system (BESS), collector substation, transformers, inverters, gen-tie line, and 24’ internal roads, water tanks for fire protection, security fencing, lighting, and signage.