Acton residents are fighting against a new battery energy storage facility proposed for their community, citing concerns over safety and environmental impact. The facility, which would store 300 megawatts of power, is part of a larger plan to add more energy storage sites in the area.
A group of north L.A. County residents is suing Los Angeles County over its approval of Fullmark’s plan. The lawsuit argues that the county failed to consider the potential environmental and health impacts of the facility, including the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
The facility would be connected to a substation owned by Southern California Edison via a 1-mile long underground intertie line. Acton residents have expressed concerns over the project’s proximity to their community, which is home to only 7,500 people in roughly 100 square miles.
In response to the project’s approval, Supervisors Kathryn Barger created a motion to establish a formal process for reviewing energy storage proposals. However, this motion was not completed in time to address the original approval received by Hecate, which has since become Fullmark.
Barger said that state laws are pushing for more energy storage projects, and she supports pursuing sustainable energy solutions. However, she believes that these solutions should balance community impact and concerns with energy infrastructure hardening goals.
A hearing was held in court last week, where both sides presented their arguments on the issue. Acton resident Ruthie Brock remained optimistic after the hearing but expressed concern over the potential for more facilities in the area.
The lawsuits argue that the county’s approval process does not include a public hearing, and that this lack of transparency is a major concern for the community. Foreseeable BESS projects in east Acton would have a combined generation capacity of over 2,300 megawatts, enough power for 2 million homes.
Acton residents are worried about the potential environmental and health impacts of these facilities, including the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Despite assurances from experts that the batteries used in utility energy storage are as safe as those used in electric cars and bicycles, Brock remains unconvinced.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2025/08/east-side-battery-storage-concerns-continue