October 6, 2026 – City Council Meeting
Item No. 9
Correspondence/Emails received
We Deliver Power and Possibilities
October 5, 2026
City of Chino City Council Meeting and Audience,
We are writing this letter to express Cupertino Electric, Inc.’s (CEI) support for the proposed Project Dirac Battery Energy Storage (BESS) Project being developed by Aypa Power in the City of Chino. CEI has been engaged as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor for the project, pursuant to an EPC agreement executed in September 2026. The proposed site, located at 13925 Benson Avenue, is well suited for this use given its proximity to Southern California Edison’s Chino 230kV substation. Additionally, the site is set over 1,000 feet away from the nearest residential property. This is substantially greater than the required safety setback established by California regulation and international BESS safety standards.
At Cupertino Electric, safety is our core value and the first consideration in every decision we make, from project planning and design review through construction, commissioning, and turnover to the owner. For Project Dirac, our construction approach is centered on rigorous site safety planning, strict adherence to regulatory requirements, comprehensive workforce training, and continuous oversight to ensure safe execution of all activities. In addition, the battery energy storage equipment selected for the project has been designed, manufactured, tested, and certified to meet or exceed all applicable federal, state, local, and industry safety standards.
CEI will work closely with Aypa Power, equipment suppliers, local agencies, and emergency response stakeholders to ensure that safety remains the highest priority from construction through project commissioning. Based on our review of the project's design and safety systems, we are confident that Project Dirac can be constructed and operated in a manner that protects both the community and the reliability of the electric grid.
We understand the importance of investing in reliable energy infrastructure that strengthens the electrical grid. With increasing demand and more frequent extreme weather placing greater strain on California’s grid, battery storage projects like Project Dirac are an important tool for utilities and communities alike. After working closely with Aypa Power on the project’s design, safety protocols, and construction plan, we are confident that Project Dirac will be a positive addition to the City of Chino.
The project should play a meaningful role in strengthening grid reliability and supporting the integration of renewable energy, helping reduce the risk of future blackouts and brownouts. We are especially encouraged that the project is being developed in accordance with all applicable 1132 North Seventh Street, San Jose, CA 95112
CA LIC #174637 ⋅ 1-877-747-4CEI ⋅ [email protected] ⋅ www.CEI.com local, state, and industry safety standards, and that steps are being taken to minimize disruption to neighboring properties during construction.
We have appreciated the collaborative relationship and clear communication we’ve had with the Aypa Power development team throughout the design and pre-construction process. Their transparency and responsiveness give us confidence that Project Dirac will be a good neighbor to the Chino community, and that CEI will be able to deliver the project safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards.
CEI supports the approval and development of Project Dirac and believes it will bring long-lasting benefits to the City of Chino and the region’s electric grid. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly with any questions regarding CEI’s role or qualifications.
Sincerely,
Kris Fabing
Project Executive
CUPERTINO ELECTRIC, INC.
BROKERAGE SERVICES
October 2, 2026
Honorable Mayor Ulloa and
Members of the Chino City Council
Chino City Council
City of Chino
13220 Central Avenue
Chino, CA 91710
RE: Dirac Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project
Dear Honorable Mayor Ulloa and Members of the Chino City Council:
I am writing to express my continued support for the proposed Dirac Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in the City of Chino.
For more than 40 years, I have represented manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and industrial clients throughout Southern California. In that time, I have seen firsthand that reliable and readily available power has become one of the most important factors tenants and buyers consider when evaluating a property. For high-energy users, a site’s location and other characteristics may be attractive, but insufficient or unreliable electrical capacity can make the property unsuitable for the company’s operations.
As industrial users require greater amounts of electricity, adequate power infrastructure is increasingly important to attracting and retaining businesses. The Dirac BESS project can help strengthen local grid reliability by balancing supply and demand during peak usage and providing businesses with greater confidence that the electrical system can support their operations.
Supporting projects such as Dirac BESS demonstrates that Chino is preparing for the energy demands of current and future businesses while investing in the infrastructure necessary to remain competitive.
I respectfully encourage the City Council to support the Dirac BESS project.
Strengthening power reliability will benefit existing businesses, support future investment, and help ensure that Chino remains an attractive market for tenants, buyers, employers, and economic development.
Thank you for your consideration and your continued service to the City of Chino.
Respectfully,
Mitch Ashwill
Ashwill Associates
From: Scott Murtishaw
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 9:13 AM
To: Administration <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXT EMAIL] Support for the Dirac project
Dear Mayor Ulloa and Council Members,
The members of the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) build and operate the energy storage California depends on, and battery safety has improved substantially as standards have caught up. EPRI data shows the failure rate per gigawatt of deployed storage fell about 97 percent between 2018 and 2023. Dirac uses lithium iron phosphate, a more stable version of lithium-ion chemistry that constitutes the vast majority of commercial energy storage products currently used for grid-scale energy storage. Dirac is also designed to meet the California Fire Code, which requires energy storage products to be tested and listed to applicable UL standards.
The cause of the La Verne incident is still under investigation, but air quality measurements during the event did not detect any hazardous substances, according to the LA County Fire Department. That finding is consistent with air quality measurements taken during previous incidents in California and other jurisdictions. The La Verne incident should not lead you to reverse a decision you made on a complete record, especially knowing that there have been no health impacts to nearby residents. We ask you to keep Dirac on consent and approve the project at the 10/6 council meeting.
Regards,
Scott Murtishaw
Executive Director
From: Luis Gomez
Sent: Monday, October 5, 2026 4:06 PM
To: Melendez, Jackie <[email protected]>; Administration <[email protected]> Subject: [EXT EMAIL] Continued Strong Support of Dirac BESS
Dear Mayor and Members of the Chino City Council,
On behalf of Rexford Industrial, I am writing to affirm our strong support for the Dirac Battery Energy Storage System.
We respectfully encourage the City Council to approve the appeal and allow this important project to move forward.
Sincerely,
LUIS GOMEZ
Vice President, Development
Development & Construction
Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc.
11620 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90025
From: D T
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 3:46 PM
To: Administration <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXT EMAIL] Battery facility
I live in Chino Hills and want to share with the City Council Members... why I have major concerns about the Battery Facility.
A big part of Chino Hills is directly down wind of the location of this potential site! Residents of La Verne are currently being evacuated
Please show some respect for this residents of Chino and Chino Hills Battery storage fire at Metropolitan Water District facility in La Verne prompts nearby schools to evacuate | abc7.com https://share.google/lkO1EmPkj1a45hiG6 Thank you
Dolly Trimble
From: Mavi Kea
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 8:33 AM
To: Administration <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXT EMAIL] bess facility
Shame on you for allowing this battery facility to endanger our residents. These battery facilities are known for causing extreme pollution when things go wrong.
All the safeguards in the world have not protected facilities from polluting the air.
Attached is a picture of the La Verne ion battery explosion.
Of all the places they could’ve chosen, why have they chosen Chino? Mavi Keane