We made it to 900 signatures! This momentum is critical because it proves to local officials that our community isn't just "concerned"—we are organized. Many of you have asked- Who are the actual decision makers and is this petition reaching them?

Here is how we are directing our message to the decision-makers who hold the most immediate authority over the Proposed BESS Project on Monterey Rd:

The CEC Status: We’ve reached out to the California Energy Commission (CEC). Because AES has not yet submitted a formal application, a "docket" does not exist. They cannot stop the project today, but they are watching the local response.

Our Shift in Focus: We are now directing our message to the local entities who hold the power to block this site before it ever reaches the state:

San Jose City Council: The primary jurisdiction. They can pass safety ordinances (LORS) and file formal legal objections that the state is required to address.
Morgan Hill City Council: Our local advocates. They can demand the independent Hazard Mitigation Studies we are calling for to protect our regional borders.
SJ Fire Dept: They hold Technical "Veto" power under SB 283. If they declare the site's fire risk non-mitigatable due to school evacuation constraints, the project is effectively dead.
MH School District: They have the legal standing to challenge impacts on our students and the "Living Laboratory" livestock as a formal "Intervenor."

Why your signature matters: When AES submits its application, every signature on this petition will be uploaded as a Formal Public Record to the CEC Opt-In Certification Program. Under state law, the CEC is required to review and address all environmental and safety concerns raised by the public before a final decision. The more people we have, the more the state is legally required to analyze our specific technical evidence—like the peak hour Monterey Road gridlock and the biological risks to CSMH &  our town’s agriculture.

Success Stories: We Are Not Alone

Other California communities have successfully used the "Safety-First" strategy to stall or block high-risk BESS projects: 

Escondido & Orange County: Both recently passed Emergency Moratoriums to halt BESS construction after local fire events proved that current safety buffers were insufficient for schools and hospitals.
Moorpark: Their City Council successfully blocked a massive BESS project by passing Strict Zoning Amendments that declared the facilities "Incompatible" with local safety standards—the same "LORS" strategy we are demanding from San Jose.
San Juan Capistrano: After the City Council filed a Formal Objection with the CEC, the state was forced to hit the brakes and perform a much deeper dive into the developer’s "incomplete" safety data. 

The Lesson: When a city and its residents present a unified, technical front, the State (CEC) finds it politically and legally difficult to override local safety. 

Please continue to forward this petition to your local groups.

-Concerned CSMH Parents