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Carson planning panel denies Ormat—backed 100 MW battery project over safety and location concerns
Summary
After extensive testimony from Los Angeles County Fire, the applicant and more than a dozen public commenters, the Carson Planning Commission voted 5' to 2 to deny the site plan and conditional use permit for Ormat Technologies—proposed 100 MW battery energy storage facility at 18800 Broadway Avenue, citing proximity to a hospital, school and residential neighborhoods and lingering environmental and emergency-response concerns.
The Carson Planning Commission on March 10, 2025 voted 5' to deny a proposed 100-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) at 18800 Broadway Avenue, a decision that followed hours of technical testimony and sharply divided public comment.
Planner Kenneka Pompei presented staff—s analysis and recommended adoption of Resolution 26-2900 to deny the site plan and design review (DOR 1935-23), the conditional use permit (CU 1128-23) and to recommend the city council deny the development agreement (DA 33-23). Pompei told commissioners the roughly three-acre site sits near Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Town Avenue Elementary and Victoria Park and that staff had concerns about "thermal runaway" fire, toxic smoke, projectile debris and the development—site—compatibility with sensitive receptors.
"The potential public health and safety risk presented by the project create compatibility concerns with the surrounding uses," Pompei said during her presentation and recommended denial.
Los Angeles County Fire representatives and the applicant gave competing technical perspectives. LA County Fire Chief Richard Stillwagger said the department had reviewed an alternate materials and methods report (AMMR) and used…
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