County sets interim battery storage guidelines

The Board of Supervisors defers to the county fire chief to implement new standards for battery storage systems; Future of some projects unknown after the board’s decision

San Diego County will begin implementing interim guidelines for Battery Energy Storage Systems until full regulations can be developed and crafted into an ordinance. Courtesy photo

COUNTY — Battery energy storage systems will now have interim guidelines and will be implemented by the county fire chief.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors discussed the matter during its Dec. 10 meeting, but were informed the county fire chief has the authority to impose stricter regulations and rules on BESS facilities without board approval.

The issue came to light from a groundswell of pushback from residents in Eden Valley near Escondido and Valley Center over concerns of fire, threats to public health and the proximity of two proposed projects near residences. The board voted to accept a report from the fire district, while battery developers voiced concerns about the new regulations as a “de facto moratorium.”

However, the supervisors were unable to set permanent standards and regulations as the National Fire Protection Association and state codes will not be released until late spring and July, respectively, according to San Diego County Fire Authority Chief Tony Mecham.

The interim guidelines only cover the county’s fire district and not other unincorporated areas of the county serviced by other fire districts, according to Chase O’Farrell, a policy aide for Supervisor Jim Desmond. Desmond represents District 5, which covers most of North County including Eden Valley and Valley Center, which are not part of the county fire department’s jurisdiction.

As for the county, the new interim guidelines include 100-foot setbacks between project sites and property lines, 10 feet between each battery container, fire and explosion detection and suppression systems, plume modeling and a facility must be able to transmit signals to an approved location if hazardous conditions are detected. Also, all new technology in a proposed BESS facility must have a third-party, lab-tested review prior to construction, according to the staff report.