Battery energy storage / Minto Road

Mother of young children seeking clarity on the environmental review process and the developer's fire-suppression track record.

Called for a total ban on lithium battery storage facilities, citing family illness after the Moss Landing fire and claiming the 90 Minto Road project is a test for many more.

Lives near Minto Road; warned of property value losses, fire risk, and harm to low-income Latino neighborhoods, and cited Measure J farmland protections.

Asked for corrected county website timelines, a full 20-category EIR scope, NEPA environmental justice inclusion, and town halls held in Watsonville.

Called the draft BESS ordinance dangerously weak; demanded a worst-case plume study, a separate project EIR, and a ban on lithium facilities near homes and ag land.

Lifelong county resident near Minto Road called the battery facility proposal the most obviously bad project he has seen in decades.

Said the county canceled public scoping steps for the CEQA review and is excluding environmental justice; requested a meeting with the group's attorney.

Called siting the facility near low-income Watsonville neighborhoods environmental racism and questioned whether the push serves data center growth rather than climate goals.

Spoke on behalf of his three-year-old granddaughter, questioning why lessons from the Moss Landing fire were not incorporated into county procedures.

Father who still checks produce sources after Moss Landing; urged discussion of safer battery alternatives and raised concerns about industry campaign donations.

Watsonville electrical contractor who supports battery storage generally but says safer chemistries exist and the county should not be rushed.

Said the state energy commission can deny projects based on local input, urged the board not to be bullied by the developer, and criticized holding decisions in Scotts Valley without translation.

Former city of Watsonville employee echoed concerns about impacts on farmworkers, neighbors, and marine life.

Old Amesti resident asked that the ordinance require full-container fire testing and noted growing local opposition.

Listed enrollment at nearby schools — Amesti, Alianza, Monte Vista — totaling nearly 2,000 students at risk.

Argued the stored energy would serve data centers and federal biometric enforcement systems, not local residents, and urged the board to ban BESS.

57-year Watsonville resident representing low-income migrant workers urged stopping the project due to school proximity and existing PG&E exposure.

Latina District 4 resident opposed the project, focusing on financial risk, insurance impacts, and liability if a disaster occurs.

Lives a mile and a half from the site; watched Moss Landing smoke from her yard and asked the board to reject the battery plant and improve community outreach.

Green Valley Road resident asked supervisors to visit the area firsthand and raised traffic, hazardous materials, and decommissioning questions.

Former Amesti school teacher compared pesticide drift exposure to battery risks and urged prohibition of the proposed sites.

Opposed the facility citing fire risk near schools and ag land, and the Hinkley groundwater contamination precedent.

Lives near the site; cited EMFs, emergency evacuation congestion, the Pacific flyway, the College Lake water project, and Measure J.

Urged removing battery project concepts from the table until federal conditions change.