Planning commission grants 2-year extension for Industrial Parkway battery storage permit

The Santa Maria Planning Commission on June 24 approved a two-year extension for a previously issued planned development permit allowing a 10-megawatt battery energy storage system at 2916 Industrial Parkway.

The extension keeps the permit valid until Aug. 18, 2027, and was approved by roll call after staff and the applicant described ownership, interconnection progress and emergency-response planning. The motion (A20250004) passed by a 5-0 recorded vote.

City planner Frank Alvaro told the commission the project received its initial plan development permit on Aug. 3, 2022, for a one-acre site and eight individual battery containers. Alvaro said the site sits in an M-1 light industrial zone, is more than a quarter-mile from the nearest sensitive receptors, and that the recently adopted local BES ordinance does not apply retroactively to this extension request. He said the applicant has been coordinating with utilities on an interconnection agreement and a power-purchase agreement.

Bridal Conboy, permitting manager for Renewable Properties, and technical and safety experts described the work completed since approval. Conboy said Renewable Properties purchased the property, secured full capacity deliverability status from PG&E, executed a power-purchase agreement with Central Coast Community Energy (3CE), posted financial security for interconnection, ordered battery systems and advanced the design to approximately 30% complete. Conboy said the company expects to submit building and grading permits later in the year.

Sam Booth, director of energy storage for Renewable Properties, described technical and safety choices for the site. Booth said the project will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, containerized units, three layers of monitoring (cell temperature, flammable gas detectors, smoke detectors), aerosol-based fire suppression inside each unit and ventilations/deflagration panels designed to direct pressure upward. He described the system as UL 9540 / UL 9540A–tested and NFPA-compliant.

Dan Murray of Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG), who described the planned emergency-response plan, said ESRG develops site-specific plans in coordination with local fire agencies, provides hands-on walkthroughs and conducts tabletop exercises. He said fire crews would be trained to treat an incident similarly to an electrical substation event and to rely on subject-matter experts and remote monitoring rather than aggressive interior firefighting.

Commissioners questioned spacing between containers, fire duration and environmental impacts from off-gassing. Booth said required separation distances (12 feet) are based on UL 9540A test heat-flux thresholds for preventing propagation between containers and said a fully involved container typically self-consumes within about four hours. Murray said off-gassed combustion products are largely combustible gases and that firefighters will monitor for carbon monoxide and follow subject-matter-expert guidance on scene.

The commission received three written communications on the item (two in support, one opposed), then closed the public hearing. Commissioners who spoke during deliberations reiterated that the project was approved before adoption of the new battery ordinance, that the applicant has invested substantially, and that the safety measures and emergency-response planning addressed the commission's concerns. Commissioner comments noted the project’s contribution to local resource adequacy and grid resiliency.

By motion, the commission approved time-extension A20250004 granting a two-year extension for PD20210012; the clerk recorded a unanimous vote with five recorded yes votes. With the extension, the permit would remain valid through Aug. 18, 2027.

The record shows the applicant is continuing coordination with the city's fire department to finalize the emergency-response and action plan before construction and to complete permit submittals required for grading and building approvals.