The California Energy Commission approved an amendment to a $9 million EPIC grant that transfers the project from the Barona Group of Capitan Grande Band of Mission Indians of the Barona Reservation to OurEnergy L.L.C., according to the commission’s July 8, 2026 business meeting packet.
The amendment, identified in the packet as Amendment 1 to EPC-23-037, also extends the agreement term by 21 months, to March 30, 2030, and moves the project site to the Yurok Tribe community in Weitchpec. The packet says total funding remains $9 million.
The underlying project is described as an EPIC-funded tribal microgrid and long-duration energy storage demonstration. Materials in the packet say the project will support resilience at tribal facilities and include a hybrid microgrid with long-duration storage.
The commission’s proposed resolution says staff recommended approval of the amendment and adoption of CEQA findings under the common-sense exemption. The packet’s summary says the action was approved, but it does not specify a vote tally or whether there was any dissent.
The business meeting materials also identify Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation, CellCube Energy Storage GmbH and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. as project participants or vendors in the revised scope. The packet does not explain in the summary why the recipient and site changed.
