Fire risks derail Carlsbad’s solar, battery storage project

City Council declines to move forward with a feasibility study amid concerns from fire officials and residents over fire threats and toxic exposure

The Carlsbad City Council denied moving forward with a feasibility study on Tuesday for a solar farm and battery energy storage system facility at Maerkle Reservoir on the border of Oceanside and Vista. Steve Puterski photo

CARLSBAD — A promising solar farm and battery storage proposal at Maerkle Reservoir was shelved Tuesday after fire safety concerns derailed the plan.

The City Council, acting as the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, voted against moving forward with a feasibility study with ForeFront Licensing, LLC. The council did direct staff to return with alternative site options in the coming weeks or months for a solar project.

The cost for the study was $470,904, while Phase 2, which would’ve included preliminary design, permitting, and 30% development design, was $828,307, according to Keri Martinez, the city’s district engineer.

She said the proposal would use 35 of 56 acres on the site, as the solar panels would have potential setbacks of 50 to 100 feet. Details such as battery type and energy generation were not disclosed, pending results from the feasibility study.

The denial, meanwhile, centered on fire safety as Carlsbad Fire Chief Mike Calderwood was blunt in his assessment of the location at the borders of Oceanside and Vista near Shadowridge Drive.

“I cannot support this location,” he said, noting the litany of safety threats. “Advancements have come out, but the risk and danger is still there.”

Calderwood and Councilman Kevin Shin, a retired fire captain, discussed the location of the proposed site and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in detail. First, 85 homes in Oceanside and Vista are adjacent to the reservoir site, which is owned by CMWD.

Another issue is the batteries, Calderwood said, noting a spark could ignite a thermal runaway event and could lead to a wildfire. Additionally, when a fire erupts, toxic material is released and can lead to health risks and impacts on residents, businesses and firefighters.

Although the proposal didn’t disclose what type of battery would be used, Calderwood said even sodium-ion batteries, a next-generation product, catch fire and pose safety risks. Shin also explained sodium-ion has a higher density than air, which forces the sodium-ion to drop into lower elevations and is a challenge to extinguish.