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Carlsbad Municipal Water District board approves comprehensive Merkle Reservoir feasibility study, 4–1
Summary
The CMWD board voted 4–1 to proceed with a comprehensive feasibility study for a solar and battery storage project at Merkle Reservoir, citing resiliency benefits; board and public commenters flagged battery‑storage fire risk and difficult emergency access as key study topics.
The Carlsbad Municipal Water District board voted 4–1 to commission a comprehensive feasibility study for a proposed solar‑plus‑battery project at the Merkle Reservoir site, with proponents pointing to local generation and microgrid benefits and opponents urging caution on battery safety and site access.
General Manager Amanda Flessy reviewed the project history: the Merkle Reservoir site has been identified as a potential utility‑scale solar location since 2015 and is now part of the district’s CIP. Staff recommended a full feasibility study to investigate environmental permits, site access, neighboring land‑use conflicts, emergency ingress/egress limitations (primary access currently via the city of Vista and secondary 4x4 routes), and fire‑safety considerations in a high‑risk zone. Flessy said two regional battery storage fires since April prompted additional scrutiny and that one option would be a smaller, focused study of fire and access constraints; the full study was estimated at about $400,000 with a 12–18 month timeline.
Speakers included renewable‑energy advocates who supported local generation and microgrids for resilience. Robert Gluski, a former energy manager for Marine Corps installations, told the board that a 50 MW project could be economically viable and stressed microgrid benefits; Don Christiansen and other local advocates urged study completion rather than shelving the project.
Board discussion clarified the study scope (roughly 55 acres under study of about 100 acres at Merkle, with the southern 50 acres conserved as habitat), funding already allocated to the study ($400,000 cited), and the timeline for consultant procurement. Board Member Bob Patel moved to proceed with the comprehensive (option 1) study; Council Member Teresa Acosta seconded. The motion passed 4–1.
What’s next: Staff will prepare an RFP/consultant contract to begin the feasibility study and will coordinate required environmental and public‑safety analyses; staff noted county rulemaking on battery storage may also inform the study.
