A fire at the world’s largest battery-storage facility in Monterey County has raised concerns about safety among Santa Clarita residents and officials. The incident led to an evacuation of 1,500 homes and renewed worries about the technology’s reliability.
The Soledad Canyon project, approved by the Planning Commission in December 2021, never came before the City Council. Despite this, city officials are taking steps to address concerns. A memo from City Manager Ken Striplin discussed the project’s approval process and local training efforts that could prevent similar incidents.
Terra-Gen, the company behind the facility, submitted plans for an 80-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage in February 2021. However, planning commissioners raised questions about the location and fire safety of the proposed facility during the initial hearing. The project’s developers assured commissioners that “thermal runaway” events, which can cause fires, are rare.
Statewide, California has seen a rapid increase in battery storage capacity, with the state increasing its capacity by 757% between 2019 and 2023. However, concerns about safety persist. Residents in Acton have joined a statewide campaign to support legislation that would slow the proliferation of these facilities.
The recent Lidia Fire, which occurred near another proposed facility in L.A. County, has reinforced concerns about the technology’s safety. A group of residents is fighting against an approval for a 400-megawatt facility in Acton, citing problems with the project’s streamlined approval process and lack of consideration for local concerns.
The state’s goal of 52 gigawatts for battery storage by 2045 remains unmet, with the current capacity being nearly 13.4 gigawatts. The increased demand for electricity and need to store it has led to a proliferation of these facilities across the state.
Source: https://signalscv.com/2025/02/norcal-fire-renews-concern-over-scv-battery-storage-facility