A community meeting is set to highlight concerns about a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Minto Road in Watsonville.
Put on by Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz and other such groups, the Feb. 28 meeting is open to the public at PInto Lake City Park, 451 Green Valley Road at 12:30pm.
Organizers encourage people to “bring food and share food and food for thought,” and that the focus of the meeting concerns “the proposed hazardous, flammable, explosive BESS right next to homes at 90 Minto Road.”
thank you so much for addressing this important community meeting!
Dear Pajaronians of Watsonville,
Thank you for providing this information and for notifying the community about the meeting this upcoming Saturday.
It is vital that we organize to oppose the Board of Supervisors and Santa Cruz County regarding the implementation of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at 90 Minto Rd. The Board has recently approved Draft ESCD GP-Code Amendments, specifically amending PPF-4.6L, to allow this acreage to be used for a storage plant.
There are several significant safety and infrastructure concerns regarding Application Planning 241473:
– Emergency Response: The Pajaro Valley Fire Protection District, which serves approximately 18,000 residents and multiple schools, is expected to provide emergency support. However, the rural nature of the district may not be equipped for a specialized industrial fire at this site. – Access Issues: Access via Minto Road and Green Valley Road is already limited by high population density. Furthermore, Casserly Road has been reduced to one lane since 2017, and Paulsen Road is prone to flooding, as seen during recent storms. – Public Safety: Given the experiences with the Moss Landing fire, an accident at this location would pose a severe risk to the surrounding neighborhoods and schools. Logistics for parents attempting to reach their children during such an emergency would be nearly impossible given current road conditions.
The Planning Department and the Board of Supervisors should have voted against this proposal based on these factors alone. We must advocate to protect our local orchards rather than replacing them with battery farms.
I look forward to discussing our next steps at the community meeting.
Best regards,
On behalf of my 3 year old grand daughter