Santa Cruz County begins BESS workshops adressing community concerns

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) - Santa Cruz County is addressing concerns over Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS facilities with an upcoming series of workshops beginning on June 25.

These technical review workshops aim to provide more details on the roles and risks of BESS sites, after concerns that became prevalent after a fire broke out at Vistra's BESS facility in Moss Landing in January.

The first three workshops are scheduled for June 25, July 30, and August 27th.

They will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. in the board chambers of the Santa Cruz County Government Center.

Remote participation will also be available.

The county says that while BESS facilities are a critical component of California's shift away from fossil fuels. They also raised community concerns about public safety, emergency response readiness, and long-term environmental impacts.