Worldwide Precedent is Being Established!
Be Part of Something Significant!
AES Corporation has proposed one of the largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installations in the world, known as the Seguro Energy Storage project in the Eden Valley neighborhood near Harmony Grove, Escondido, and San Marcos, CA. This proposed project would generate 1600 MWh of energy with the ability to power 300,000 households for four hours. In theory, this sounds like a renewable energy solution, however the proposal is the first of this magnitude proposed with only a 25-foot setback from current residential properties requiring some residents to drive through the facility to access their homes. The project presents significant dangers to our community. If this project is approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, it will set precedent for San Diego County, and it will be used as justification for future BESS projects worldwide. Would you want a Battery Energy Storage System in your backyard?
SIGNIFICANT RISKS TO OUR COMMUNITY
1. Extreme Fire Hazard2. Toxic Environmental Contamination3. Increased Risk of Health Issues4. An Eye Sore to the Community5. Light and Noise Pollution6. Depreciating Property Values7. Decreased Property Tax Revenue8. Increased Insurance Premiums9. Target for Cyber & Terrorist Attacks10. Potential Disruption to Archeological Sites11. Decommissioning Issues
CALL TO ACTION: Finding better energy solutions is imperative, but not by compromising or threatening residents, animals, property values, the environment, and our firefighters. The preference for this location, primarily due to its proximity to existing transmission lines and its cost savings for the developer, should not override the risks associated with its close proximity to residences, hospitals, and schools.
The importance of renewable energy in not in dispute, but we, the residents of Eden Valley, Harmony Grove, and Elfin Forest, hereby call upon The San Diego County Board of Supervisors and all entities who will be taking a stance to oppose the Seguro Battery Energy Storage System. Further calling upon the County Board of Supervisors to establish BESS guidelines, requirements, safety measures, and decommissioning plans to include thorough environmental, social, and governance analysis, mandating ample distance between BESS and residential neighborhoods, and requiring a Major Use Permit for these projects.
We urge you not only to consider these points but act on them by halting the installation plans for this dangerous system. We are setting worldwide precedent with this project. Please sign this petition today so your neighborhood is not next!
Eden Valley, Harmony Grove, and Elfin Forest is home to nearly 4000 residents, equestrian facilities, persimmon and avocado groves, multiple parks, the Escondido Creek, historical and archeological sites, a nature preserve and hiking trails.
FIRE HAZARD: The project presents an extreme fire hazard in an area already prone to fires. In 2014, the Cocos fire burned 1995 acres and destroyed more than 40 buildings in this neighborhood. Ingress and egress are limited to only three - two lane - exit routes for more than 3880 residents in the direct vicinity and an approximately 11,834 residents along the exit routes. Many of these residents have animals that would need to evacuate in the event of a fire. The proposed facility is approximately 2000 feet from Palomar Medical Center, Rady Children's Urgent Care, and within proximity to schools including CSUSM, Del Dios Academy, and preschools.
Lithium-ion batteries are constructed with flammable electrolytes and reactive lithium salts, which can generate a violent exothermic chemical reaction if the battery is damaged, overcharged, or exposed to high temperatures. The thermal energy generated by these reactions can cause a thermal runaway condition, which in turn enters a cycle of rapid increase in temperature and pressure within the battery, resulting in an explosion or fire. These fires cannot be contained by normal firefighting tactics and the current recommended method of control is to allow the fire to burn while cooling the surrounding systems to prevent further explosion.
Cooling the surrounding systems is done by distributing thousands of gallons of fire suppression water. With a two-lane road for ingress, how is the fire department supposed to get this much water to the facility in a timely manner? Any water that the fire department manages to get to the facility will run off contaminating nearby wildlife, resident wells, habitation areas and waterways such as the Escondido Creek.
There are currently 482 Battery Energy Storage Facilities in operation in the US. "Over the past decade, more than 60 fires and battery overheating events have occurred at utility, commercial and industrial energy storage installations worldwide. (Electric Power Research Institute). That includes 16 in the US since 2019, when a broader market began to emerge, and at least six this year. The incidents range from minor hiccups to catastrophic accidents, such as a 2019 explosion at an Arizona Public Service Company battery system in Surprise, Arizona., that injured eight firefighters and destroyed the project.", Hering, S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Although we have an excellent fire department, lithium-ion technology is inherently volatile. There is a significant gap in our understanding of how to effectively prevent and mitigate the impact of these fires. Safety measures are evolving, but we shouldn't be subjecting our firefighters as "test subjects". Safety protocols and training are of the utmost importance and are currently lacking.
TOXIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION & HEALTH ISSUES: The systems can lead to toxic environmental contamination of hazardous materials, inevitably increasing health risks for residents and animals, contamination of the soil and water, and emission of toxic gases.
Lithium battery fires release toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, and sulfur dioxide. Studies have shown that exposure to the chemicals can lead to an increased risk of health issues including respiratory problems and skin irritation. (Environmental Health Perspectives Journal, 2019). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, exposures of 50 to 100 ppm of sulfur dioxide may be tolerated for more than 30 to 60 minutes, but higher or longer exposures can cause death from airway obstruction. Hydrogen fluoride is lighter than air and would disperse when released, a cloud of vapor and aerosol that is heavier than air may be formed (EPA). On exposure to skin or by inhaling, hydrogen fluoride can result in skin burns and lung damage.
Studies further indicate that toxic gases could increase health risks for residents within a four-mile radius. This could affect residents east to the Safari Park, the southern half of San Marcos, and south to Rancho Bernardo.
LIGHT & NOISE POLLUTION: The neighborhood is predominately rural with tract homes within a quarter mile of the proposed site. Although, city lights can be seen in the distance, the valley is relatively dark and extremely quiet. This facility would create light similar to a baseball field and emit a constant buzzing noise.
According to Acentech, sound from inlet and outlet airflow vents, fans, and pumps are emitted from each battery enclosure. The process of converting DC into AC power requires fast switches that change polarity. In the US, AC power cycles 60 times per second. The switches must activate twice per electrical cycle. This process produces tonal sound at twice electrical line frequency (120 hertz) and its harmonics (240, 360, 480 hertz and higher). There are also three sources of noise from the transformer: core noise, coil noise, and fan noise. The core and coil noise are caused by electromagnetic forces which occur two times for every cycle of AC power. This results in a 120 hertz primary sound source, along with its harmonics. The third source of sound are cooling fans mounted outside the transformer.
DEPRECIATED PROPERTY VALUES & DECREASED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE: The project would depreciate property values and property tax revenue to the County. The implementation of this project will markedly diminish the visual character of this neighborhood. The construction of a large industrial facility, high fence walls, the installation of lighting, and constant buzzing noise will alter the visual landscape and overall enjoyability of the currently serene valley. As future buyers travel on Country Club Drive to visit a prospective home, their perceptions will be severely deterred by the dangerous placement of a power facility.
Current California real estate law requires disclosure of industrial facilities and environmental hazards. The mere proposal of this facility is already a deterrent for some buyers, but if it is built, a study from University of California Berkeley found that the proximity to industrial facilities could decrease property values by up to 7% (UC Berkeley Real Estate Department, 2018).
The EPA used hedonic property value methods to examine how chemical accidents impact home values. The study results indicate that the typical accident does not affect values, but accidents resulting in offsite injuries, property damage, evacuations, or shelter-in-place orders lead to a 5% to 7% decrease in the value of homes within three miles. This would affect property values in San Marcos, Escondido, and the Rancho Bernardo portion of San Diego. On average, decreasing property owner's net worth by $64,000.
Other studies estimate up to 40% reduction of home values for properties located in the direct vicinity of hazardous waste facilities, especially after chemical exposure or in the event of neglected decommissioning efforts. Current homeowners will suffer a significant loss of value in their homes.
INCREASED INSURANCE COSTS: Insurance premiums may rise due to increased fire risk associated with battery storage facilities (Insurance Information Institute). Furthermore, with multiple insurance carriers exiting California due to fire hazards, obtaining insurance could become nearly impossible.
CYBER & TERRORIST ATTACKS: This type of infrastructure is also a potential target for cyber and terrorist attacks which could disrupt power supply or even cause damage if hackers were able to manipulate control systems (Department of Homeland Security).
"Aon, a global professional services firm, has urged asset owners and operators in the battery energy storage system (BESS) market to enhance their cyber resilience against emerging cyber threats, identifying operational technologies used in BESS control systems as an ‘invisible’ point of vulnerability.
As the energy grid digitalizes, cyber-attacks are ranked as the number one threat facing businesses today and in the future.
Energy businesses are facing an increasingly complex cyber risk landscape, with new forms of volatility and current geopolitical tensions driving scrutiny on the security of essential energy infrastructure, Aon stated.
While only a handful of successful attacks on clean energy systems have been reported to date, new forms of sophisticated malware emerged in 2022 – including Chernovite’s ‘Pipedream’ – that pose a significant threat to industrial control systems connected to the energy grid, including BESS."(Mukhopadhyay, Reinsurance News)
DISRUPTION TO ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES: This area was named Harmony Grove and Eden Valley for its peaceful nature by early settlers. It is home to historic buildings, the ruins of an old adobe house, a stone mill, archeological sites, and the Escondido Creek. This project will destroy the cultural essence of the community and the proposed connections to the substation will likely disrupt archaeological sites.
DECOMMISSIONING: Most jurisdictions do not have decommissioning plans and requirements. The jurisdictions that have established these plans are operating off limited knowledge of the rapidly expanding risk factors of BESS. The Seguro Battery Storage System is proposing a 35-year lease on private land. Decommissioning the facility could lead to a brownfield, especially if AES is not held to accountable decommissioning guidelines or if they file bankruptcy. The County would then have to figure out how to clean up the site which could lead to an increased tax base assessed on residents.
RESOURES:
Battery Hazards for Large Energy Storage Systems (American Chemical Society)
Battery Energy Storage Hazards and Failure Modes (National Fire Protection Agency)
Emerging Hazards of Battery Energy Storage System Fires (University of Texas of Austin Published on FEMA’s website)
BESS Failure Event Database (EPRI)
Would you want to live across from this? Staten Island resident details life near a battery energy storage site (Silive.com)
