Considering battery storage on Solano County land?

Confirm who reviews the property

The county’s planning FAQ says its zoning rules apply to unincorporated land. For property within city limits, contact the relevant city planning department. A nearby town’s name in an address is not enough to identify the reviewing office.

Ask for the parcel’s actual zoning and the rule the company believes allows its proposed use. Keep a copy of that response. If a map and a written description disagree, have the office explain the difference before relying on either.

Describe the existing use when you ask: a farm, commercial yard, vacant tract or other property. Mention buildings, tenants and entrances that would remain. This helps keep the discussion about your land rather than a general description of storage.

Reference: Solano County: zoning and jurisdiction FAQ · Solano County: planning services and official code link

Identify the battery proposal being reviewed

Section 28.83 covers qualifying front-of-the-meter systems of at least one megawatt-hour on unincorporated land and distinguishes behind-the-meter systems serving existing uses. Have the reviewing office confirm the classification of the actual proposal.

Ask the developer whether it proposes a separate grid project or batteries serving your existing activity. Request the project’s power and energy figures and the intended electrical connection. You do not need to choose those figures yourself.

The CEC opt-in program is an optional state route for eligible projects. If the company intends to use it, ask how local requirements will be addressed and which other approvals remain. Do not assume that county review and a state application describe the same approval process.

Reference: Solano County Code: Section 28.83, battery energy storage systems · California Energy Commission: opt-in certification program and FAQ

Compare the roads with the land you would keep

The county code links layout requirements to the proposed technology assessment. Its provisions for systems with a thermal-runaway risk include an encircling 30-foot fire access road with two entrances. Ask which requirements apply to the proposed design.

Put the equipment, roads, gates and retained uses on one drawing. Can you still reach the back of the property? Would deliveries, farming equipment or tenants need to cross a controlled entrance? Identify those conflicts while the plan can still change.

Ask what happens when an entrance is closed for maintenance or an emergency. Who holds keys or access codes, and how would people using the rest of the property be informed? Keep your access rights clear in the agreement.

Include construction routes and temporary work areas. Ask who repairs damaged surfaces, fences or irrigation and when temporary space returns to your use. A project drawing should not leave those areas to an informal understanding.

Reference: Solano County Code: Section 28.83, battery energy storage systems

Ask which approval stage has been reached

The November 4, 2025 Board record confirms adoption of the updated battery ordinance. That is a rulemaking decision, not approval of your property.

Section 28.83 separates land-use review from documents needed before building permits and final inspection. Request the actual decisions and outstanding conditions for the site.

Use a short list: the company’s next step, the record supporting it, the expected date and the payment affected by that step. If the company only has an application, have that described plainly rather than calling the project approved.

Ask separately about the electrical connection. What document names the connection point, what work remains and who pays for it? A site decision does not answer whether the connection can be completed on the proposed timetable.

Reference: Solano County: November 4, 2025 battery ordinance adoption minutes · Solano County Code: Section 28.83, battery energy storage systems

Agree on the condition in which the land comes back

The county’s decommissioning provisions address landowner agreements and financial assurance. Ask for the actual plan and security documents alongside the lease.

Describe what “restored” should mean for your property. Discuss equipment, foundations, roads, cables, drainage and access to the remaining land. What would be removed, what could remain with your agreement and who would complete each task?

Ask who can call on the financial security, what it covers and how its amount is updated. Have your advisers compare it with the obligations owed to you. Avoid treating a mention of a bond as the full answer to restoration costs.

If the project company or property ownership changes, ask how the agreement handles ongoing responsibilities and notices. Keep the company responsible for payments, maintenance and removal identifiable throughout the arrangement.

To begin a conversation with Sunland, send your contact details and the property location. This page selects Solano County and California, and both can be corrected. Add a note about the land you could offer or the part of a proposal you want to understand. Acreage and parcel number are optional.

Reference: Solano County Code: Section 28.83, battery energy storage systems