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Board extends moratorium on new large-scale battery storage permits to write safety rules
Summary
The board voted to extend an interim urgency moratorium on issuance of permits for large battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities in the unincorporated county to give staff and safety partners more time to draft siting and safety measures.
Orange County supervisors on March 11 extended an interim moratorium on permitting large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities in unincorporated parts of the county, directing staff to develop measures addressing site selection, community safety and firefighting response.
The extension is intended to give county staff, the Orange County Fire Authority and utilities time to craft regulations and operational practices for BESS installations after a series of high-profile fires at similar California facilities prompted concern among residents and local officials.
Why it matters: Large lithium-ion battery installations are increasingly proposed to support the regional grid, but the January fire at a BESS installation in Moss Landing and other incidents prompted calls for clear county siting standards, emergency response protocols and environmental review procedures. The board's moratorium preserves the county's ability to consider those safety measures before new permits are issued.
Vice Chair Katrina Foley, who led the motion, told the board the extension gives staff a clear timeline to work with OCFA and utilities on siting and safety protocols. Representatives from Southern California Edison and SDG&E described their existing safety practices and said they would continue to participate in the county's process. Several residents and fire-safety advocates urged a comprehensive approach that accounts for life-cycle hazards, suppression challenges and potential evacuations.
The board approved the extension after public comment and discussion; the length of the extension was described by the maker as giving staff approximately 10 months plus a short administrative buffer to draft recommended measures and model ordinances for cities.
Next steps: County staff and OCFA will continue a technical review and share proposed ordinance language with the board and with cities. Supervisors said they will encourage cities to consider consistent local rules so permitting expectations are uniform across the region.
