How much do San Diego County residents support battery storage facilities? – San Diego Union-Tribune

A battery fire continues to smolder at the Gateway Energy Storage facility in Otay Mesa on Tuesday, May 21 .
Strong Public Support for Battery Storage in San Diego County Despite Recent Fire Incidents

New survey shows majority backing, but critics question methodology amid ongoing safety concerns

SAN DIEGO — A majority of San Diego County residents support battery energy storage systems (BESS) in their communities, according to a new survey, even as recent high-profile battery fires continue to raise safety questions about the rapidly expanding technology.

The poll, commissioned by Cleantech San Diego and conducted by Probolsky Research, found that 65.7% of county residents support battery storage projects, with 57% even supporting such facilities in their own neighborhoods. The seven-minute online survey of 856 residents was conducted between January 31 and February 13, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.

"I have to be honest, I was surprised that the general support was as strong as it was, just given the negativity we hear about battery storage projects in the state," said Jason Anderson, CEO of Cleantech San Diego, the business association that paid for the poll.

Recent Fire Incidents Cast Shadow

The survey results come against a backdrop of several concerning battery storage fires in California. Most notably, San Diego County experienced a prolonged incident in May 2024 at the Gateway Energy Storage facility in Otay Mesa, where nickel manganese cobalt batteries kept reigniting for nearly 17 days, requiring extended firefighting and air monitoring efforts.

Additional incidents include a September 2024 fire at a San Diego Gas & Electric facility in Escondido that temporarily evacuated 500 businesses, and a January 2025 blaze at a massive 750-megawatt facility in Moss Landing, Northern California, that sent toxic gases into the air and forced the evacuation of 1,500 residents.

Methodology Under Fire

The survey's credibility faces challenges from critics who question both its methodology and timing. JP Theberge, a member of Californians for Safe Energy Storage, dismissed the poll as "not statistically reliable" and accused it of being a "push poll" designed to generate favorable responses.

Theberge pointed to several concerns, including that only 1.3% of respondents chose Spanish as their preferred language, despite roughly a quarter of San Diego residents speaking Spanish at home. He also claimed the survey under-counted the number of battery fires nationwide.

Adam Probolsky, president of Probolsky Research, defended the survey's integrity, noting that 34% of respondents identified as Hispanic or Latino even if they chose to answer in English. "It is a good poll, it's an accurate poll, it's a representative poll," said Probolsky, citing his 33 years in the field.

Community Reality vs. Survey Support

While the San Diego survey shows broad support, experiences in communities that have actually dealt with battery storage incidents tell a different story. In Moss Landing, California, restaurant owner Solano said "I feel ashamed that I didn't ask the right questions early on when I started hearing about the idea of this plant coming into Moss Landing. I went along with the idea of we need green energy, and that seems like the best choice for us."

Residents near the Moss Landing facility described experiencing "sore throats and other symptoms" after a January 2025 fire that forced 1,500 people to evacuate. Scientists found "high concentrations of heavy-metal nanoparticles" in nearby soils following the fire, and at least 12 local residents are now suing the plant's Texas-based owner, Vistra Energy.

The experience has sparked a "Not in my backyard" response elsewhere. In Santa Cruz County, residents formed a grassroots group called "Stop Lithium B.E.S.S." after learning about the Moss Landing fire, demanding county officials adopt a moratorium on lithium battery storage systems. The city council of Morro Bay voted to pause new battery plant development permits for 45 days following the incident.

First Responders Face Unique Challenges

First responders express mixed views on their preparedness for battery storage emergencies. Industry experts acknowledge that "due to lack of training, personnel change, or lack of established procedures, serious injuries or unnecessary damage could be caused by inappropriate access to the equipment or improper hazard mitigations."

A recent safety report noted concerns about poorly displayed signage at battery facilities, with "Danger of Death" signs not meeting proper regulatory standards, and the need for operators to "produce Emergency Response Plans for First Responders (firefighters)" developed "in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Service that has responsibility for the facility."

However, the National Volunteer Fire Council acknowledges that "departments still need to be prepared in the event of a fire or other emergency at a BESS site and train for the unique considerations of such an incident," while emphasizing "Early and frequent engagement between BESS operators and firefighters can best serve the safety of the community."

Survey vs. Lived Experience

The gap between San Diego's survey results and actual community experiences raises questions about informed consent. In Watsonville, resident LuAnn Martin said she was "very surprised about hearing of New Leaf's plans to build a battery storage facility in her neighborhood," finding out only after the Moss Landing fire: "This company never notified me as a resident, nor did the county ever notify us as residents that they were talking about doing such a huge project."

While showing general support for battery storage, the San Diego survey revealed nuanced public preferences. When asked to rank electricity generation and storage types, battery storage finished sixth at 30.3% support. Rooftop solar led at 57.8%, followed by solar farms (51.5%), wind farms (45.7%), natural gas (42.3%), and hydroelectricity (35.9%).

The poll also found 65.1% of residents support the region's transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, with 19.2% unsure and 15.8% opposed.

Industry Safety Evolution and Ongoing Challenges

The battery storage industry has made significant safety improvements since early installations, but challenges remain. Between 2017 and 2022, U.S. energy storage deployments increased by more than 18 times, from 645 MWh to 12,191 MWh, while worldwide safety events over the same period increased by a much smaller number, from two to 12.

Modern facilities now follow updated standards including NFPA 855 and UL 9540 safety codes that require battery energy storage systems to incorporate appropriate safety features to contain potential fires or thermal events. Emergency response plans now include extensive collaboration with first responders and address emergency situations including extreme weather, fires, security incidents and more.

However, older facilities like Moss Landing remain problematic. The facility was originally constructed in a repurposed 1950s-era power plant building, which lacked modern compartmentalization and fire suppression measures. The facility used nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion cells, a high-energy-density chemistry known for its susceptibility to thermal runaway, while newer installations have largely switched to safer lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry.

The Information Gap Problem

The disconnect between theoretical support and community acceptance becomes apparent when residents learn about risks after facilities are already planned or operational. Many residents were unaware of battery storage proposals until after the Moss Landing fire broke out, suggesting that the surveyed support may not reflect truly informed consent about potential hazards.

"We know that there is no method of suppressing a lithium battery fire once it's inflamed. We know that the larger the lithium battery installation, the higher the chances of fire," noted community organizer Nina Audino, highlighting the technical complexities that may not be fully understood by survey respondents.

Growing Divide Between Promise and Practice

The contrast between San Diego County's survey results and actual experiences in communities with battery storage facilities highlights a fundamental tension in renewable energy deployment. While residents broadly support clean energy in theory, those who have lived through battery storage emergencies express very different views.

The debate over battery storage safety and community acceptance continues as California and San Diego County push forward with renewable energy expansion plans. Recent legislative proposals, including California's Assembly Bill 303 (the Battery Energy Safety & Accountability Act), seek to establish tighter safety protocols and require local community engagement in the permitting process.

As one Moss Landing resident put it: "The goal of everyone being safe, and the goal of getting off fossil fuels and having a clean energy grid, are in conflict with this situation." This tension between climate goals and community safety concerns appears likely to intensify as more battery storage facilities are proposed across California and the nation.

Bottom Line: While surveys show public support for battery energy storage, communities that have actually experienced battery storage incidents demonstrate significantly more skepticism and concern, suggesting that informed consent about risks may be lacking in the planning process. First responders continue to face training and equipment challenges, while safety improvements are ongoing but not yet fully proven at scale.

Sources

Primary Survey Source:

Community Response and Safety Analysis:

Industry Safety and First Responder Resources:

Technical Analysis and Industry Response:

San Diego County Incidents:


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