Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances Clean Energy Safety Act (SB 283) to tighten safety, inspections and fire‑service role for large battery storage projects
Summary
SB 283 would require safety standards, firefighter involvement in planning, and inspections before large battery storage facilities operate. The measure targets lessons from the Moss Landing incident and won broad support from fire unions, labor and utilities; committee adopted amendments and referred the bill to Appropriations.
The Assembly Local Government Committee advanced SB 283, the “Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025,” authorizing new safety requirements, standardized codes and structured fire‑service involvement for large battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Sen. (presenting) said the bill responds to the Moss Landing battery fire and the rapid growth of storage capacity in California, which has climbed from a few hundred megawatts to over 13,000 MW in recent years. The measure would require projects to adhere to standardized safety standards (including NFPA guidance and updated building/electrical/fire code provisions), prohibit containment of storage inside combustible buildings, and require local fire agency consultation during design plus an inspection and verification before the facility starts operation.
Firefighters’ unions and statewide labor organizations strongly supported the bill. Doug Subers of the California Professional Firefighters said large battery fires can be complex and long‑running and urged the committee to adopt measures that improve firefighter and community safety, including pre‑application meet‑and‑confers with fire agencies, adherence to NFPA 55 and inspection prior to operation. The California State Association of Electrical Workers and California Coalition of Utility Employees also cosponsored the bill and emphasized worker safety.
A broad set of local governments, fire authorities and industry groups also registered support, and the author accepted committee amendments intended to harmonize the proposed standards with CEC and CPUC efforts already underway. No formal opposition was recorded in committee testimony; the committee voted to move the measure to Appropriations with the accepted amendments.
Why it matters: California is rapidly scaling battery storage to integrate renewable energy. SB 283 aims to codify minimum safety standards and give fire agencies a structured role in design review and pre‑operation inspection, addressing public safety and firefighter risk concerns raised after recent incidents.
