Opponents challenge proposed Orange County battery facility linked to SDG&E

Map of the proposed battery storage site in Orange County Photo courtesy of city of San Juan Capistrano Leaders and residents voiced opposition to a proposed battery vitality storage facility linked to SDG E that they say poses considerable masses safety risks The site in San Juan Capistrano would include lithium-iron phosphate batteries transformers a switchyard and a collector substation to hook up with the San Diego Gas Electric Trabuco to Capistrano -kilovolt transmission line Compass Strength Storage LLC is proposing to build the -megawatt battery force storage system on acres at Camino Capistrano and Interstate The project can be approved by the California Ability Commission which hosted the Thursday hearing at the Capistrano Unified School District based on a state law meant to add to California s renewable potential efforts It has drawn opposition from Rep Mike Levin a Democrat whose district includes parts of North County and extends into Orange County Orange County Board Vice Chairwoman Katrina Foley San Juan Capistrano Mayor Troy Bourne and Assemblywoman Diane Dixon R-Newport Beach The commission s bureaucrats emphasized that no decision would be made during Thursday s hearing The project faces a vote later this year after agents continue analyzing the pros and cons An interconnection agreement with SDG E and the California Independent System Operator has been implemented according to the commission If approvals are secured following construction of the switchyard by Compass Strength Storage LLC ownership and operations would transfer to SDG E Representatives for the project attempted to assure the populace that the facility would pose little hazard in incident of fire Critics have pointed to promising citizens safety risks with only one main access point in occurrence of a fire Land use environmental attorney Renee Robin explained the commission that battery storage facilities are essential to meet the strength demand The biggest issue for all of us is when we have excess solar power in our grid Robin noted the site is especially suited for the project because it is next to an existing transmission line we can tap into that cam accommodate of the project s potency without any curtailment This is a very rare commodity in California and it s an access to that region which has to be able to address the demand which is expected to double in Orange County by The project could generate up to million to the state county and local cabinet and million in sales tax revenue she explained It would require construction jobs and eight permanent operational jobs on site Agents noted the facility would feature outdoor battery containers which would limit the hazard of fire spreading Bourne however stated he was really part of an effort to redevelop the site and argued it can t be done This site cannot be safely developed and it has nothing to do with a battery storage facility the mayor explained This site can t be developed until the creek erosion problems can be solved Bourne declared the city supports green power efforts We accept battery storage is part of the green ability response We believe that to be true he revealed But we reject the suggestion made by the application that there is no fire danger here This is a new mechanism and while I think we can state definitively that battery storage facilities are safer than they used to be we can also say they re not as safe as we would like them to be Bourne who is also on the Orange County Fire Authority board noted local firefighters strongly oppose the project Foley stated she also is a big booster of renewable potential initiatives We re building a battery vigor storage system facility at John Wayne Airport and we re doing it the right way Foley stated Se added that such systems in high-risk fire zones have the anticipated to be catastrophic I m here to ask the commission to deny this project at this location because of the wildfire danger it poses Dixon narrated the commission I would encourage you also to consider an alternative site far removed from transportation arterials and residential communities