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Santa Cruz County delays battery-energy-storage zoning as public and state review continues
Summary
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19 deferred action on a proposed battery-energy-storage combining‑district ordinance until on or before the second meeting in August 2026 to allow time for state law changes and results of post‑Moss Landing safety studies.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19 directed staff to defer action on a proposed battery energy storage (BESS) combining-district ordinance until on or before the board's second meeting in August 2026 to allow more time for state law developments and for county and Monterey County studies related to the Moss Landing fire to be completed.
Why it matters: Residents and public-safety advocates told the board they remain deeply concerned about the safety, siting and long-term public-health effects of grid-scale lithium‑ion storage facilities following the 2023 Moss Landing fire. Several speakers asked the board to support state bills that would require setback standards and…
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