San Francisco seeks approval for $65M Tumbleweed Energy Storage project partnership
March 16, 2022 | San Francisco County, California
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On July 4, 2025, the San Francisco County government convened to discuss a significant resolution aimed at enhancing the city’s energy storage capabilities. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proposed a resolution to authorize the purchase of long-duration energy storage from Tumbleweed Energy Storage LLC. This initiative is part of a broader effort to comply with a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) mandate requiring Clean Power SF to procure 1,000 megawatts of long-duration energy storage by June 2026.
The resolution outlines three key agreements that Clean Power SF will enter into, including a buyer liability pass-through agreement and a project participation share agreement. The total cost for Clean Power SF's share is capped at $65 million over a 15-year term, beginning upon the project's commercial operation, which is anticipated to start on June 1, 2026. This project is expected to fulfill approximately 72% of Clean Power SF's regulatory requirement under the CPUC order.
The Tumbleweed project, developed by LS Power Rev Renewables, will feature a 69-megawatt lithium-ion battery capable of discharging electricity for up to eight hours. It will be located in Rosamund, Kern County, an area known for its abundant solar energy resources. The project is designed to store excess solar energy generated during the day for use during peak demand hours in the evening, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
During the meeting, Mike Himes, the director of Clean Power SF, emphasized the importance of this project in supporting California's transition to renewable energy. He noted that the facility will help mitigate the challenges posed by the increasing amount of solar energy generated in the state, which sometimes exceeds demand and leads to energy being exported out of California.
The meeting also highlighted the collaborative nature of this initiative, as Clean Power SF is partnering with several other Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) through the newly formed California Community Power (CC Power) joint powers agency. This collaboration allows for economies of scale, making it more cost-effective for individual CCAs to participate in larger energy storage projects.
Public comments during the meeting raised concerns about the environmental impacts associated with battery storage technology, particularly regarding the sourcing and disposal of rare earth minerals used in battery production. One speaker urged the government to consider the long-term environmental implications of such projects and to prioritize local energy generation to minimize transmission losses.
As the resolution moves forward, it represents a critical step in San Francisco's commitment to sustainable energy solutions, addressing both immediate regulatory requirements and long-term goals for renewable energy integration. The anticipated next steps include finalizing the agreements and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations as the project progresses toward its operational launch in 2026.
The resolution outlines three key agreements that Clean Power SF will enter into, including a buyer liability pass-through agreement and a project participation share agreement. The total cost for Clean Power SF's share is capped at $65 million over a 15-year term, beginning upon the project's commercial operation, which is anticipated to start on June 1, 2026. This project is expected to fulfill approximately 72% of Clean Power SF's regulatory requirement under the CPUC order.
The Tumbleweed project, developed by LS Power Rev Renewables, will feature a 69-megawatt lithium-ion battery capable of discharging electricity for up to eight hours. It will be located in Rosamund, Kern County, an area known for its abundant solar energy resources. The project is designed to store excess solar energy generated during the day for use during peak demand hours in the evening, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
During the meeting, Mike Himes, the director of Clean Power SF, emphasized the importance of this project in supporting California's transition to renewable energy. He noted that the facility will help mitigate the challenges posed by the increasing amount of solar energy generated in the state, which sometimes exceeds demand and leads to energy being exported out of California.
The meeting also highlighted the collaborative nature of this initiative, as Clean Power SF is partnering with several other Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) through the newly formed California Community Power (CC Power) joint powers agency. This collaboration allows for economies of scale, making it more cost-effective for individual CCAs to participate in larger energy storage projects.
Public comments during the meeting raised concerns about the environmental impacts associated with battery storage technology, particularly regarding the sourcing and disposal of rare earth minerals used in battery production. One speaker urged the government to consider the long-term environmental implications of such projects and to prioritize local energy generation to minimize transmission losses.
As the resolution moves forward, it represents a critical step in San Francisco's commitment to sustainable energy solutions, addressing both immediate regulatory requirements and long-term goals for renewable energy integration. The anticipated next steps include finalizing the agreements and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations as the project progresses toward its operational launch in 2026.
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