BLM Approves Transmission Line for 117-Megawatt Sapphire Solar Farm

The Bureau of Land Management on March 14 approved gen-tie transmission line and facilities for EDF Renewables’ Sapphire Solar project covering approximately 40 acres of land in Riverside County. The authorization allows EDF to develop the transmission line and infrastructure to connect the solar farm to the electric grid. Once operational, the solar power and storage plant will have a daily transmission and storage capacity of 117 megawatts.

The project approval implements the directives of U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s Order 3417 to address the national energy emergency declared by President Trump in January. The order expedites the permitting and approval processes for energy projects that support grid reliability. Amid the prioritization of oil and gas projects from President Trump’s executive orders, the Sapphire Solar and Storage projects is one of the first solar power projects to secure approval under the new administration.

EDF will construct Sapphire’s transmission system on lands that are a part of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan which conserves natural desert ecosystems near renewable energy sites. This site ensures minimal disturbance to wildlife and local communities, while utilizing existing transportation links instead of building new roads.

The project’s community infrastructure investment amounts to almost $262 million, and is set to become operational to serve an estimated 60,000 homes in 2026 with an operating life of 39 years. The solar and storage site would interconnect with the Southern California Edison substation via the existing Desert Harvest gen-tie line.