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Public Hearing, Wed. 11/8 @ 6pm Seguro Battery Energy Storage proposal
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County of San Diego – Project Scoping Meeting for Seguro Battery Energy Storage Project – Major Use Permit Hearing Details: When: Wednesday, November 8th at 6pm Hearing location: Del Lago Academy theater located at 1740 Scenic Trail Way, Escondido, CA 92029 Links: Background: The Seguro Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project proposes a 1,600 megawatt-hours facility (400MW x 4 hours) using large arrays of lithium ion batteries covering 22.5 acres of a former equestrian ranch in Eden Valley. Lithium ion storage projects have been increasingly in the news lately due to the prevalence of “thermal runaway” which is a failure that can be caused by a single cell out of millions of cells in a project. When a thermal runaway occurs, cells can catch fire and create a chain reaction that emits a toxic plume and creates a fire that cannot be put out. Though these facilities are usually sited in industrial or remote areas, these failure events often require evacuations or shelter-in-place orders to nearby communities. AES, a publicly traded energy company, will need to obtain a Major Use Permit from the county to allow it to place a mostly industrial usage in a residential-zoned neighborhood and public input is required. The MUP also requires an extensive Environmental Impact Review which allows for public comment as well. The Public Scoping meeting is informational in nature and will entail a presentation from the County and while they are not officially taking public comment, they may answer questions asked by the public. A public commenting period is also open through December 4th to allow members of the public to weigh in on what the EIR should be studying. If you have any concerns that you feel need to be studied in detail for the EIR, you should provide those comments before then. It is CRUCIAL that as many members of the community as possible attend this meeting to show that we are engaged. A Major Use Permit needs to be approved by the Planning Commission (9 commissioners appointed by the Board of Supervisors) and public input often plays a role in these decisions. If an MUP for this type of usage is allowed in Eden Valley, then certainly it would be allowed in Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest, given the number of large acre parcels available in throughout the community. If anyone wants to carpool, please contact efhgtc@gmail.com and state whether you plan on driving or need a ride. Project Location: Eden Valley is next to Harmony Grove, in the unincorporated County. It is a rural residential neighborhood with houses on 1/4 acre or more plots. San Marcos is to the west and City of Escondido to the east. INFORMATIONAL LINKS: Union Tribune: Battery storage is a key piece of California’s clean energy transition. But there’s a problem with fires. San Diego Union-Tribune: Large energy storage facility planned for Escondido but are batteries a fire hazard? Times-Advocate: Residents tell concerns about proposed battery storage facility AZ Central: Cause of APS battery explosion that injured 9 first responders detailed in new report Illinois Policy Institute: BIG BATTERIES TO STORE RENEWABLE ENERGY CREATE FIRE HAZARD |
