A few weeks ago, Hydrostor hosted two open house events in Kern County to engage with local suppliers and contractors to support the construction of the Willow Rock Energy Storage Center. As Willow Rock nears groundbreaking and construction later this year with a signed Project Labor Agreement in hand, these events allowed Hydrostor to connect with a broad cross-section of local businesses, gathering invaluable input from the industry leaders who know Kern County’s construction landscape best, and allowing them to learn more about the work packages that will support project construction.

Hydrostor held two open houses across two days, one in Rosamond and another in Bakersfield. The strong turnout at both events reflects the growing interest in the project and the project’s growing momentum. Attendees came ready to ask questions, review bid packages, and begin forming partnerships to support project delivery, and Hydrostor is excited to support local contractors and suppliers throughout the construction process.

Hydrostor also introduced Hatch to the Open House attendees, who will be the EPC-M (engineering, project, and construction manager) partner for the Willow Rock project. Hatch will serve as an extension of Hydrostor’s Project Team and provide systems and support to deliver the project, but Hydrostor will be directly contracting with vendors and suppliers as a sign of our deep commitment to delivering the project.

Event participants included heavy civil and general contractors, electrical and mechanical trades, and engineering and EPC firms that support the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects. Hydrostor also engaged suppliers of key construction materials, including ready-mix and structural concrete, along with specialty providers in coatings, insulation, and industrial finishing. Supporting services were also well-represented, including equipment rental companies, logistics and site support providers, security and janitorial services, and modular and portable infrastructure vendors. The events also drew participation from financial institutions, real estate and economic development organizations, labor unions, and hospitality providers, reflecting the broad base of workforce, operational, and community support services that will be integral to the successful delivery and operation of the Willow Rock project.

Attendees heard that the Willow Rock team does not want to make assumptions about the types of vendors and suppliers that are best suited for each kind of work, but instead want to hear from the local market, which is why it’s important for all interested vendors and suppliers to fill out the Vendor Opportunity Form. The project team expects that there will be vendors who can provide support to other vendors, so even if a business can’t support the project directly but is interested in hearing more about opportunities, it’s important to be in touch via the Opportunity Form.

Strong local capabilities will be essential to delivering a project of Willow Rock’s scale. The project will provide 500 MW of energy storage, capable of powering over 400,000 homes for 8 continuous hours. The strength of Kern’s workforce, the region’s commitment to industry, and it’s leadership in powering California are going to be critical in delivering a project that will keep Kern County and the U.S. at the forefront of energy innovation and energy dominance.

Hydrostor is eager to partner with local contractors and suppliers who will anchor Willow Rock with the established relationships and on-the-ground expertise needed to deliver a project of this scale safely and efficiently, and has already had interest from more than 40 local vendors. Establishing this strong local foundation and business network will help drive Willow Rock’s economic benefits, including supporting thousands of jobs during construction, and roughly 40 full-time operations and maintenance positions once the facility is up and running. The project will also contribute over $500 million in direct and indirect benefits to Kern County’s economy during construction and operations, along with approximately $18 million in annual property taxes that will go towards roads, schools, and other critical infrastructure for the County.

Working with local commercial contractors ensures that the economic benefits generated by Willow Rock flow directly to locally employed workers, contribute to the local tax base, support community organizations, and continue a pattern of sustained investment in Kern County. This local participation will strengthen the project’s supply chain through an established network of regional suppliers and subcontractors, creating efficiencies and ensuring construction is supported by businesses that are invested in Kern County’s future, just like Hydrostor.

We’re excited to get started.

Interested in contracting and supplier opportunities on the Willow Rock project but weren’t able to attend an Open House? Please fill out our Vendor Opportunity Form, here: willowrockenergystorage.com/opportunities/.