Community concern grows as PG&E’s Elkhorn facility return looms

MOSS LANDING, Calif. (KION)— Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) plans to bring its Elkhorn Battery Facility back online by June 1, following months of cleanup and inspections prompted by a fire at the nearby Vistra battery facility earlier this year.

PG&E says the Elkhorn facility, which stores energy to support California’s power grid, is critical as summer demand increases.

"The company claims it has taken extensive actions to ensure the facility is safe, including updating its emergency plans, installing continuous air monitoring systems, conducting safety trainings including updating, sharing and publishing our Emergency Action Plan," Teresa Alvarado, PG&E’s Vice President for the South Bay and Central Coast region, said.

But despite those efforts, many local officials and residents say they’re not ready to see the facility reopened.

“We don't know the cause of this fire,” Monterey County District 2 Supervisor Glenn Church said. “That’s going to prevent another one from happening again, if they should open up.”

Church said county officials sent PG&E a letter in January asking for the facility not to reopen until the fire’s cause was determined and a stronger emergency response plan was in place. He says neither request has been fulfilled.

“We made a request for these two things,” Church said, “and neither one of those requests have been fulfilled.”

PG&E, for its part, maintains that the facility is ready and necessary to meet California’s energy needs this summer.

Still, nearby residents like Nancy Russell say communication has been lacking and fear safety protocols remain unclear.

“Before they start the batteries again, they need to talk to the community,” said Nancy Russell, a Moss Landing resident. “There has been no indication that these flare-ups can’t happen again.”