RESOLUTION NO. 2024-xxx
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS TO OPPOSE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (BESS) PROJECTS IN AND ADJACENT TO THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS WHEREAS, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a technology designed to store and manage energy for later use that typically uses rechargeable batteries to store energy from various sources, such as the electrical grid, renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, or other power generation methods; and Whereas, in an effort to develop alternative energy supplies, there has been an increasing number of proposed and constructed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in the County of San Diego whose technology is fairly new, rapidly evolving and for which there is not a well-documented history of impacts of these projects on local communities; and WHEREAS, currently, the County of San Diego is developing standards to guide the review process for new BESS projects and is allowing active applicants for BESS facilities to continue moving through their approval process; and WHEREAS, health and safety concerns reasonably related to BESS projects is the release of toxic gases, potential for the ignition of fires, explosions and “thermal runaway” events which, once initiated, are extremely difficult to extinguish and may require the deployment of City fire and safety resources and personnel to battle those fires; and WHEREAS, in those cases where BESS projects are placed outside of but adjacent to the City’s jurisdictional boundaries, the City Council will not have the ability to review, consider and vote on the project and therefore will not have a sufficient opportunity to control and address the above-referenced concerns about these types of projects or provide oversight of the ongoing operation in the future; and WHEREAS, there is a need for the consideration of local and region-wide design guidelines, development regulations, location placement restrictions, and related controls and criteria subject to input by all relevant stakeholders including residents, urban planners, legislative bodies, utility regulators, energy storage subject matter experts, and industry representatives.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Marcos does hereby oppose Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in and adjacent to the City of San Marcos as proposed under current development and safety standards.
PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of San Marcos, California, this 24th day of September 2024, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
Rebecca D. Jones, Mayor
City of San Marcos
ATTEST:
Phillip Scollick, City Clerk
City of San Marcos
Resolution 2024-xxx