OtherTabled90 Minto Road

90 Minto Road Energy Storage System / ESS Combining District Ordinance

Santa Cruz County

Description

The developer pulled its county application and took the battery storage project to the state Energy Commission under AB 205. Supervisors sent the county's draft safety ordinance to the state with demands, negotiated a community benefits agreement, and paused local ordinance processing.

Impact summary

The county loses direct permitting control but retains influence through the CEC review; farmland conversion and fire safety near Watsonville remain the flashpoints.

Applicant

Name: New Leaf Energy
Address: 90 Minto Road

At a glance

Hearings: 1
Public comments: 0
Total mentions: 1

Last vote · Board of Supervisors

Tabled5–0, unanimous

Last discussed Jun 30, 2026.

Meeting timeline (1)

Jun 30, 2026Tabled 5–0

Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting - Jun 30, 2026

Related issues (1)

Battery energy storage facility at 90 Minto Road

A large lithium battery storage facility proposed on agricultural land near Watsonville is now before the state Energy Commission after the developer pulled its county application. Supervisors pushed the county's draft safety rules to the state, demanded farmland replacement and community benefits, and must now watch a process they no longer control.

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