Dana Point Council backs opposition to nearby battery storage project, adopts strategic plan and manager contract amendment

Dana Point City Council on June 17 authorized Mayor Matt Pagano to send a letter of opposition to the California Energy Commission (CEC) regarding the proposed Compass Energy Storage Project located near the 5 Freeway and the Los Angeles–San Diego rail corridor in San Juan Capistrano.

City staff said the CEC deemed the project application complete on April 30, which triggered a public information and scoping period that included meetings on May 29 and June 3. Riley Kesabasian, a city staff member who presented the item, said residents and government representatives raised concerns about the project's single access point crossing an active railroad corridor, the potential operational impact on daily train service in the event of a construction incident or accident, local creek erosion near the site, and fire-related risks. Kesabasian said the city is recommending the council authorize a letter of opposition to the CEC. "Based on this overwhelming opposition from the public and other government representatives, we are recommending that city council authorize the mayor to send a letter of opposition to the CEC for this project," Kesabasian told the council.

Councilmember Federico moved to send the letter and Councilmember Michael Vilar seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

"If I lived at the top of this slope, looked down at this thing that could catch on fire…