Halt the Establishment of Battery Storage Facilities in Monterey and Santa Cruz County

Recent signers:
Michelle Leversee and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Our precious Santa Cruz and Monterey 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.

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Recent signers:
Michelle Leversee and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Our precious Santa Cruz and Monterey 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.

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The Decision Makers

John Laird
John Laird
California State Senate - District 17
Responded
“The recent fire at the Moss Landing battery storage facility is deeply troubling, and the community continues to seek answers nearly a week later. The day after the fire began, I joined California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild and other elected leaders at the incident command center in Moss Landing to receive an initial briefing on the fire’s timeline, air quality & environmental concerns, and potential impacts on local residents. In 2023, I authored Senate Bill 38 to require battery storage facilities to develop and submit an emergency safety plan, recognizing the growing prevalence of these systems to meet our state’s clean energy goals. Among the requirements of this bill was that each battery storage facility located in California have an emergency response and emergency action plan. SB 38 further required that in developing the plan, there be coordination with local emergency management agencies, unified program agencies, and local first response agencies. Such a plan was required to be filed with the city or county in which the facility is located. In this case, a plan was completed by Vistra in September 2023 – four months before the law formally went into effect. While the plan was extensive, it was not filed after the bill became law. There are questions as to whether the report covered plans for an incident of this magnitude. Furthermore, it appears that PG&E has not filed an emergency safety plan for their adjacent battery storage facility in compliance with the law. It is imperative to determine whether the specific plan that was submitted by Vistra to local authorities was implemented effectively during this incident, and since it was filed prior to the law going into effect—if the report was consistent with the new law. In reviewing the effectiveness of this law, we could consider setting deadlines for submitting these reports and requiring periodic updates to encourage ongoing coordination between cities, counties, and facilities. To help rebuild community trust that the facility can operate safely, significant changes are necessary. While the system currently remains offline, Vistra must take immediate steps to address these issues, including: 1) Providing the Monterey Bay Air Resources District with sufficient SPM Flex gas detectors to effectively track hydrogen fluoride (HF) levels. 2) Collaborating with the North County Fire Protection District to expand their capacity and readiness to respond to incidents of this scale. 3) Initiating additional environmental monitoring and testing such as air, soil, water, and particulate matter assessments. 4) Presenting emergency safety plans required under SB 38 at a public forum to increase transparency and accountability. I extend my deepest gratitude to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to protect and inform our community during this challenging time. The impacts of this fire have been profound—from the financial hardships faced by small businesses affected by the highway closure to the stress and disruption caused from the evacuation. These challenges underscore the importance of not only addressing the immediate aftermath but also implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future. My office is fully committed to finding answers, advocating for necessary reforms, and ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our Central Coast communities. State Senator John Laird (SD-17)”
Justin Cummings
Justin Cummings
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors - District 3
Responded
“I share the many concerns expressed by members of the Santa Cruz, Monterey, and other communities related to the recent fires at Moss Landing. On Tuesday January 28th, 2025, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors hosted a meeting with staff from Monterey County and staff from Vistra Corp. to seek input as to how this fire started and why the safeguards in place failed. Although there is little information at this time as to how the fire started, numerous investigations have been launched to determine how the fire started and the extent of its impacts on the surrounding communities. As we learn more about the impact of these fires and how it started we should use this experience to inform how to make these facilities safer. I am grateful for the fact that no one was seriously hurt or killed during this incident and currently we have not seen any significant negative impacts to our environment. That being said there is still testing that needs to be done and we will be awaiting the results from the investigation at the fire facility. We also welcome any feedback from community members as to how this incident may have impacted their health. As we continue to explore renewable energy so that we can move away from burning fossil fuels, which have even greater impacts on our health and environment, we need to ensure that regulations are in place to minimize to the greatest extent possible that these kinds of failures will occur and to protect the health and safety of people who live within the vicinity of these facilities. I am committed to continuing to work with our community and elected officials both at the local, state, and federal level to ensure that policies are in place to prevent these kinds of incidents as we continue to explore and implement new technologies that get us towards cleaner renewable energy. Justin Cummings, Ph.D. Third District Supervisor Santa Cruz County”
Robert Rivas
Robert Rivas
California State Assembly - District 29

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Petition created on January 18, 2025