Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Storage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oxnard council votes 4-3 to authorize legal challenge of Shoals battery project approval
Summary
After public comment from the project developer, the Oxnard City Council directed the city attorney to file suit challenging Ventura County Planning Commission approval of a large battery storage project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions, with a 4-3 vote split along the council.
The Oxnard City Council voted 4-3 on March 4 to direct the city attorney to initiate legal action challenging the Ventura County Planning Commission’s approval of the Shoals energy storage project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions LLC.
The vote, announced at the meeting’s start after the council returned from closed session, instructs the city attorney to challenge the county’s approval of the proposed battery storage facility on agricultural land south of Gonzales Road, about a half mile west of Victoria Avenue. The motion passed with Mayor MacArthur, Councilwoman Rodriguez, Councilmember Perillo and Mayor Pro Tem Turan voting to proceed; Councilwoman Starr, Councilwoman Basua and Councilwoman Perez voted no.
Why it matters: The action will move a local land-use dispute into court and could delay or alter the project’s timeline if litigation proceeds. The developer has said the project would be a large investment in regional energy infrastructure and property tax revenue for schools.
Developer Hal Dittmer, president of Wellhead Power Solutions, spoke during the meeting’s public comment on the matter and urged the council to continue conversations rather than sue. “We’re proposing to build a very large $500,000,000 project,” Dittmer said, and urged “don’t file a suit yet because frankly the project is in right at a time where we are talking to lenders.” He also told council members to “insist on outdoor storage in certified ... UL containers” and emphasized “proper battery chemistry.”
After closed session, the City Attorney announced the council’s direction: “The city council by a vote of 4 to 3 ... has directed the city attorney to initiate an action to challenge the approval by the Ventura County Planning Commission of a battery storage system project known as the Shoals project proposed by Wellhead Power Solutions LLC,” the attorney said, adding a site description and the county permit reference.
What council members said: The record shows a split council. Supporters of the litigation argued the county approval raises local safety, land-use and community concerns and described litigation as the available legal remedy. Opponents said other remedies or additional review might be preferable and cautioned about the risk of litigation.
Next steps: The city attorney will prepare and file legal papers. The avenue identified in the public announcement is a court challenge to the county’s approval; the project is currently identified in county records as permit PL24-24. The city’s statement said the action is being taken “to challenge the approval by the Ventura County Planning Commission.”
Community context: The Shoals site and battery projects more broadly have drawn public attention for safety and land-use questions. Wellhead Power Solutions has said the facility would add storage capacity and claimed it would contribute substantial property tax revenue for schools.
A copy of the county permit number (PL24-24) and the city attorney’s formal complaint, when filed, will be public records and posted per the clerk’s usual procedures.
The council’s vote means the city will become a litigant in the challenge unless the council later changes course.
