The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 13 will review proposed rules governing large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are expected to allow the controversial facilities to be built in unincorporated areas of the county while giving local officials a measure of control over where they are placed.
Supervisors will consider the principal components of a draft ordinance that would amend the county’s General Plan and County Code to permit BESS facilities, under a new combining district. The proposal would apply outside the coastal zone and focus on facilities located near existing electrical transmission substations.
County staff are recommending that the board direct the start of environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, using the draft amendments as the basis for analysis. If approved, the proposal would also be referred to the Agricultural Advisory Commission and the Planning Commission for review and recommendations.
The draft ordinance includes a series of safety, land-use and environmental requirements developed in response to board direction given during a Nov. 18 presentation on energy storage regulations.
At that meeting, supervisors asked staff to strengthen standards related to public safety, agricultural land protection and emergency response.
Among the proposed requirements are 300-foot setbacks from residences, enhanced access for first responders, on-site runoff containment, noise limits, security measures and a dedicated water supply.
Developers would be required to use best available technology, conduct soil and water testing before and after construction, and submit a decommissioning plan addressing battery disposal.
The proposal also addresses agricultural impacts, calling for mitigation when energy storage facilities are sited on agricultural land.
This includes a 3-to-1 replacement ratio for agricultural resources, though staff note that such requirements could be modified to avoid making projects infeasible and instead circumvent local permitting by applying through the state.
Developers would be required to cover all costs associated with energy storage facilities, including road and drainage upgrades, first responder training and emergency response equipment. Financial guarantees, such as bonding or insurance, would also be required to cover potential hazardous incidents.
County officials say BESS facilities are a critical part of a push to shift away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable green energy.
BESS facilities take electricity from sources such as solar and wind and store it for use during peak demand and outages. But they have drawn scrutiny in some communities over fire risk and land-use compatibility.
Locally, those concerns were sparked by the Jan. 16, 2025 fire at the Vistra plant in Moss Landing that burned for days and sent a massive plume of toxic black smoke into the air.
The board is not expected to adopt an ordinance at the Jan. 13 meeting. Under the proposed timeline, staff would return with a status report in August, and recommendations for adoption by November.
The meeting begins at 9am at the county government center. Public comment will be taken, and agenda materials are available at bit.ly/4jnLrDz
