California Aims to Triple Battery Storage by 2045: Watsonville Proposal Meets Resistance

A proposed battery storage plant near Watsonville is encountering resistance from locals because of worries about safety, sparked by a blaze at a comparable site in Moss Landing.

California is quickly scaling up its power infrastructure, with battery storage capacity growing to more than 15,000 megawatts—representing an almost 2,000 percent increase from 2019 levels.

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Senator John Laird stated in an announcement, Energy storage systems continue to be crucial for ensuring our state’s renewable energy goals by maintaining stability in the power grid during periods without sunlight or wind. This is precisely why my bill, SB 283—the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025—has garnered bipartisan backing due to its focus on stricter safety measures benefiting both residents and emergency personnel. Despite the federal government advocating for increased reliance on fossil fuels through proposals like offshore oil drilling along the Central Coast, California stays dedicated to pioneering a path towards greater safety, cleanliness, and sustainability.

Even with the emphasis on clean energy, numerous locals continue to express worry after the Moss Landing fire.

Brian Roeder, co-founder of "Never Again Moss Landing," expressed his worries, saying, "These batteries are dangerous. We know that having seen what happened at Moss Landing, and they're going in everywhere at all kinds of scales, including in Santa Cruz County, where three are being proposed. The problem is that they're unstable. And when they catch on fire, it only takes one battery out of 80,000 to overheat and catch on fire."

The New Leaf Energy initiative in Watsonville is currently in the initial planning phase, as the firm applied for a permit back in December 2024.

The county plans to examine it during the fall, and should approval be granted, construction might begin in 2027, leading to operation commencement by 2029.

Roeder added, "I'm all for clean energy. But this is not clean energy. What just happened to our community was not clean. In fact, it was one of the largest industrial accidents in California's history."

In response to safety concerns, the state has adopted new safety rules, and an updated fire code for battery storage facilities is forthcoming. Governor Newsom has also formed a statewide task force to address risks as battery use expands.

However, many locals urge caution. Roeder said, "We don't have to rush into it and create greater dangers for our communities. It's happened to us. It's going to happen to others. Stop! Learn. Listen."

California plans to triple its battery storage capacity by 2045.

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