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Halt the Establishment of Battery Storage Facilities in Monterey and Santa Cruz County
A petition to halt the establishment of battery storage facilities in Santa Cruz County has been created.
Please sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/halt-the-establishment-of-battery-storage-facilities-in-santa-cruz-county
Please sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/halt-the-establishment-of-battery-storage-facilities-in-santa-cruz-county
Text of the petition:
The Issue
Our precious Santa Cruz County, known as the produce bowl for the world, is under threat. For us residents, who love and cherish this land, the mounting concern regarding the proposed battery storage facilities is more personal than most realize. The threat has become undeniably real with four fires already recorded due to the existing facility in Moss Landing.
These instances are stark reminders of what has been hauntingly equated to the aftermath of the “3 Mile Island” disaster. The potential fallout to the health of human life, our delicate ecosystems, and the incomparable beauty of our county is immeasurable. Yet, it seems our concerns fall on deaf ears, as more battery supply areas are being proposed in Watsonville, Aptos, and Santa Cruz.
The logic is simple: where there is smoke, there is fire. We need no more evidence than the smoke billowing from the Moss Landing facility to understand that this is a significant problem that requires immediate resolution. What's more, our county's status as a global produce supplier adds another layer of concern. The potential contamination of our produce could have far-reaching implications on global food chains.
Therefore, we demand immediate action. We call upon our local representatives and governmental bodies to halt the establishment of additional battery storage facilities in the county. This is about preserving Santa Cruz County, the health of its residents, the integrity of our produce, and the future of our world-renowned ecosystem. Sign this petition to stand against any more battery storage establishments and protect our beloved Santa Cruz County.
Please sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/halt-the-establishment-of-battery-storage-facilities-in-santa-cruz-county
The Issue
Our precious Santa Cruz County, known as the produce bowl for the world, is under threat. For us residents, who love and cherish this land, the mounting concern regarding the proposed battery storage facilities is more personal than most realize. The threat has become undeniably real with four fires already recorded due to the existing facility in Moss Landing.
These instances are stark reminders of what has been hauntingly equated to the aftermath of the “3 Mile Island” disaster. The potential fallout to the health of human life, our delicate ecosystems, and the incomparable beauty of our county is immeasurable. Yet, it seems our concerns fall on deaf ears, as more battery supply areas are being proposed in Watsonville, Aptos, and Santa Cruz.
The logic is simple: where there is smoke, there is fire. We need no more evidence than the smoke billowing from the Moss Landing facility to understand that this is a significant problem that requires immediate resolution. What's more, our county's status as a global produce supplier adds another layer of concern. The potential contamination of our produce could have far-reaching implications on global food chains.
Therefore, we demand immediate action. We call upon our local representatives and governmental bodies to halt the establishment of additional battery storage facilities in the county. This is about preserving Santa Cruz County, the health of its residents, the integrity of our produce, and the future of our world-renowned ecosystem. Sign this petition to stand against any more battery storage establishments and protect our beloved Santa Cruz County.
Please sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/halt-the-establishment-of-battery-storage-facilities-in-santa-cruz-county
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Livestreamed today by the County of Monterey: https://www.youtube.com/live/GUpLTvhklLA
Moss Landing Power Plant/Vistra Fire Symptoms
https://www.facebook.com/groups/652815133743333
This group is for people experiencing symptoms from the Moss Landing Power Plant/Vista fire.
Vistra officials are saying that the air quality is fine, but many people are reporting respiratory issues and aren't sure what to do.
If you are experiencing symptoms from the fire, please go to Urgent Care or the ER, make sure that your symptoms are documented AND submitted to the Monterey County Health Department. They might only tell you to get out of the danger zone, but at least it will be documented. You are welcome to post your concerns here and also comment on other people's posts.
If you are not experiencing symptoms, but are still concerned about our community members, you are also welcome to join.
This is a tool for our community to share information about what people are experiencing and use as a tool as we navigate the next steps moving forward.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/652815133743333
This group is for people experiencing symptoms from the Moss Landing Power Plant/Vista fire.
Vistra officials are saying that the air quality is fine, but many people are reporting respiratory issues and aren't sure what to do.
If you are experiencing symptoms from the fire, please go to Urgent Care or the ER, make sure that your symptoms are documented AND submitted to the Monterey County Health Department. They might only tell you to get out of the danger zone, but at least it will be documented. You are welcome to post your concerns here and also comment on other people's posts.
If you are not experiencing symptoms, but are still concerned about our community members, you are also welcome to join.
This is a tool for our community to share information about what people are experiencing and use as a tool as we navigate the next steps moving forward.
Article published in Lookout Santa Cruz:
Planned $200 million battery storage project near Watsonville aims to reduce power outages, expand renewable energy
by Tania Ortiz
January 14, 2025
A Massachusetts company is planning to build a large battery storage facility in an apple orchard outside Watsonville in hopes of reducing power outages and adding more clean energy to the local power grid.
The 14-acre scale project is being developed by New Leaf Energy, a renewable energy developer based in Lowell, Massachusetts. It’s planned for a site in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on Minto Road, near Green Valley Road, next to a Pacific Gas & Electric transmission substation.
The battery energy storage system is expected to help reduce the chance of power outages in Santa Cruz County and provide renewable energy to the existing power grid and increase its reliability, said Max Christian, project lead for New Leaf Energy. The project’s estimated cost is $200 million.
The system is planned to have a capacity of 200 megawatts — enough power to support up to 200,000 homes for up to four hours, in its current design. Changes can be made to the battery’s design before construction even begins, as technology is always changing, said Christian.”
The battery storage system has an estimated 20-year lifespan and will collect its electricity via solar power during the day, to be stored and fed back into the grid during peak hours. “The most significant way that the battery avoids blackouts or rolling blackouts is it provides that additional capacity by discharging [energy] in the evening,” said Christian.
Christian added that the energy storage system will help replace gas-fired power plants that would typically provide the energy during the evening hours, when electricity is used the most. The state of California is moving away from fossil fuel-generated electricity, with legislation mandating that by 2045 all of the state’s electricity will come from clean energy.
South County became the ideal location for the project because there was already a weak spot in the electricity grid in the area — meaning more potential for power outages or disruptions — identified by PG&E in 2014, said Christian. The area is also adjacent to a transmission substation, he said, which makes it easier to incorporate the system into the existing power grid.
The battery energy storage system will be located on a locally owned apple orchard on Minto Road, he said; the project will be built on part of the orchard where the soil is not viable for planting apple trees. Christian said the rest of the property will still be used by the family who owns it.
The project could bring the county up to $50 million in economic benefits during its 20-year lifespan, largely from property and sales tax revenue, said Christian. The development of the project will increase the amount of property tax paid for the land, and the county will also receive revenue from development fees and the transfer tax from the land sale.
Christian added that a decommissioning bond will be set up by New Leaf Energy. The bond is financial agreement that guarantees there will be funding for the land to be restored to its original condition when the renewable energy facility reaches the end of its lifespan. But there is a chance the energy storage system can last beyond its planned 20-year operational term, he said.
The project first started development in 2019, said Christian, and projects like this one have a long process. A permit application was submitted to the county’s planning department in December, and Christian anticipates the project will go in front of county supervisors later this year.
The anticipated construction date is set for 2027, he said, and the battery energy storage system will not begin to operate until 2029.
__
FOR THE RECORD: This story was updated to correct that the battery storage system is expected to be able to power up to 200,000 homes for four hours.
https://lookout.co/planned-200-million-battery-storage-project-near-watsonville-aims-to-reduce-power-outages-expand-renewable-energy/
Planned $200 million battery storage project near Watsonville aims to reduce power outages, expand renewable energy
by Tania Ortiz
January 14, 2025
A Massachusetts company is planning to build a large battery storage facility in an apple orchard outside Watsonville in hopes of reducing power outages and adding more clean energy to the local power grid.
The 14-acre scale project is being developed by New Leaf Energy, a renewable energy developer based in Lowell, Massachusetts. It’s planned for a site in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on Minto Road, near Green Valley Road, next to a Pacific Gas & Electric transmission substation.
The battery energy storage system is expected to help reduce the chance of power outages in Santa Cruz County and provide renewable energy to the existing power grid and increase its reliability, said Max Christian, project lead for New Leaf Energy. The project’s estimated cost is $200 million.
The system is planned to have a capacity of 200 megawatts — enough power to support up to 200,000 homes for up to four hours, in its current design. Changes can be made to the battery’s design before construction even begins, as technology is always changing, said Christian.”
The battery storage system has an estimated 20-year lifespan and will collect its electricity via solar power during the day, to be stored and fed back into the grid during peak hours. “The most significant way that the battery avoids blackouts or rolling blackouts is it provides that additional capacity by discharging [energy] in the evening,” said Christian.
Christian added that the energy storage system will help replace gas-fired power plants that would typically provide the energy during the evening hours, when electricity is used the most. The state of California is moving away from fossil fuel-generated electricity, with legislation mandating that by 2045 all of the state’s electricity will come from clean energy.
South County became the ideal location for the project because there was already a weak spot in the electricity grid in the area — meaning more potential for power outages or disruptions — identified by PG&E in 2014, said Christian. The area is also adjacent to a transmission substation, he said, which makes it easier to incorporate the system into the existing power grid.
The battery energy storage system will be located on a locally owned apple orchard on Minto Road, he said; the project will be built on part of the orchard where the soil is not viable for planting apple trees. Christian said the rest of the property will still be used by the family who owns it.
The project could bring the county up to $50 million in economic benefits during its 20-year lifespan, largely from property and sales tax revenue, said Christian. The development of the project will increase the amount of property tax paid for the land, and the county will also receive revenue from development fees and the transfer tax from the land sale.
Christian added that a decommissioning bond will be set up by New Leaf Energy. The bond is financial agreement that guarantees there will be funding for the land to be restored to its original condition when the renewable energy facility reaches the end of its lifespan. But there is a chance the energy storage system can last beyond its planned 20-year operational term, he said.
The project first started development in 2019, said Christian, and projects like this one have a long process. A permit application was submitted to the county’s planning department in December, and Christian anticipates the project will go in front of county supervisors later this year.
The anticipated construction date is set for 2027, he said, and the battery energy storage system will not begin to operate until 2029.
__
FOR THE RECORD: This story was updated to correct that the battery storage system is expected to be able to power up to 200,000 homes for four hours.
https://lookout.co/planned-200-million-battery-storage-project-near-watsonville-aims-to-reduce-power-outages-expand-renewable-energy/
According to OpenSecrets: The company that owns the battery storage facility that caught fire in Moss Landing, Vistra Corp., contributed $7,500 to the campaign of Congressmember Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif) in 2023-2024.
https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/C00226548/candidate-recipients/2024
Can we trust Jimmy Panetta to protect the health of his constituents over the influence of one of his big money corporate donors?
https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/C00226548/candidate-recipients/2024
Can we trust Jimmy Panetta to protect the health of his constituents over the influence of one of his big money corporate donors?
Moss Landing Battery Plant Environmental Disaster Community Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/962330675331079
This page is to inform residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties of the current environmental disaster at the Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility. It will serve as a place where residents can access information such as where and when community meetings will occur and what we can do to move forward as a community.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/962330675331079
This page is to inform residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties of the current environmental disaster at the Moss Landing Battery Storage Facility. It will serve as a place where residents can access information such as where and when community meetings will occur and what we can do to move forward as a community.
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