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Chair asks battery‑storage firm to brief commission as members flag safety and permitting questions
Summary
The Santa Ana County Planning Commission agreed to ask a representative from Signal Renewal to present an informational session about proposed commercial battery‑storage facilities after members raised questions about siting, conditional‑use permitting and fire‑safety training.
The Santa Ana County Planning Commission voted to invite a representative from Signal Renewal to answer questions about proposed commercial battery‑storage facilities after commissioners said they lacked sufficient information about permitting and safety.
Commission Chair opened the discussion saying he had received multiple calls from Garrett Peterson of Signal Renewal and suggested the company come for a question‑and‑answer session so the panel could “be educated as we go forward.” The Chair said the firm’s concept is containerized battery units that charge during off‑peak hours and discharge during peak demand to support the grid.
Commissioners said the county’s code does not currently include clear provisions for such facilities. One commissioner asked whether a battery‑storage site would be treated like an industrial or utility facility and whether it would require rezoning or a conditional‑use permit. Chair said the permitting path needed to be verified in the code before any application could be processed.
Members also raised public‑safety concerns. A commissioner asked whether local fire personnel are trained to fight large battery fires and whether sufficient water or specialized resources would be available; another participant warned that battery incidents can produce hazardous gases. “There is a hazard to fire, but it get hot and they get hot,” the Chair said while urging caution and more information.
Commissioners pointed to examples in other states as potential models, noting a large facility operated by Duke Energy in North Carolina. The commission reached consensus that staff or the interim director (Mr. Knuckles) should contact Signal Renewal and schedule an informational presentation so members can better evaluate zoning, landscape buffers and emergency response requirements.
Next steps: staff will follow up to arrange a presentation and gather model ordinances and safety resources for the commission’s review at a future meeting.
