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Council authorizes negotiations with three BESS proposers and one large renewable project for El Dorado Valley sites
Summary
Council authorized staff to negotiate lease terms with three shortlisted battery energy storage proposers and a separate award to RWE for a 1,200‑acre renewable project after staff described proposed megawatt capacities, lease rates and fire‑safety provisions; motions were approved unanimously.
Boulder City Council authorized staff on May 12 to enter negotiations with three firms for battery energy storage system (BESS) leases and separately to negotiate with RWE on a large renewable and storage project after staff presentations on two agenda items.
Contracts and site details: Staff said the RFP evaluation identified three shortlisted proposals for parcels near Spring Canyon Road and US‑95 — Primer G (proposing up to 500 megawatts with a quoted lease rate of $20,000 per acre and a $2,000-per‑megawatt energy storage fee), Delamar/Rev Renewables (250 megawatts; approximately $12,000 per acre and $2,000 per‑megawatt fee) and IOWN (about 60 acres for a $1,250,000 combined lease rate and up to 200 megawatts with up to 5 megawatts of on‑site photovoltaic generation). Staff emphasized that Resolution 8130 authorizes negotiations only and does not finalize leases.
For the larger site (Item 16), staff recommended negotiating with RWE on a roughly 1,200‑acre site in the upper Dutchman’s Pass/Block Hills North area. RWE proposed a lease rate of $2,300 per acre and proposed up to 250 megawatts of photovoltaic generation and 250 megawatts of storage; staff estimated the project could generate roughly $3.9 million to the city in fiscal year 2030 and more than $81 million through 2050 under certain assumptions.
Public questions and safeguards: Residents asked whether BESS projects are a pathway to data centers and about emergency management after a widely noted battery fire at a different site. Developers present — including Christina Casares for Primer G and Nathan Murdoch for Delamar — repeatedly said their proposals were for stand‑alone BESS projects, not data centers, and described coordination with Clark County and Boulder City fire departments on emergency action plans. Staff and the city attorney said the RFP includes a fire‑safety assessment fee and strengthened lease terms for indemnification, mutual aid cost recovery, and fire‑suppression requirements reviewed by the fire department.
Approvals: Council moved, seconded and approved Resolution 8130 (authorize negotiations with the three shortlisted proposers) and Resolution 8131 (authorize negotiations with RWE) by unanimous vote. Staff also noted that appraisals and easement work authorized earlier (Resolution 8126) will be billed to eventual lessees as part of lease costs.
Next steps: Staff will negotiate separate lease agreements, return to council with negotiated lease terms for public review and complete environmental/permitting steps and any required land‑management approvals before any construction.
