Felipe Hernandez, who chairs the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, released the following statement on the lithium battery storage fire on Jan. 22:
•••
The recent events in Moss Landing have understandably heightened safety concerns across our community. At the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, January 28, we will provide a comprehensive update on the fire in Moss Landing, ensuring residents are informed and engaged in this critical conversation.
Felipe Hernandez
We cannot accept facilities in our neighborhoods that pose a risk of repeated catastrophic incidents.
As we evaluate any proposals, including the Minto Road project, safety plans and mitigation measures will remain our top priorities. A thorough environmental impact review will also be essential to fully assess the potential benefits and risks to our environment and community.
Green energy is vital to combating climate change and meeting State and local goals to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Battery storage technology has the potential to play a transformative role in this transition — if implemented with the highest standards of safety and responsibility.
Lessons learned from the Moss Landing fire — including emergency response efforts, evacuation procedures, air quality testing, and fire suppression strategies — are shaping our approach. In addition, response protocols are being strengthened to better protect public safety moving forward.
Community involvement is critical in this process. My office, in collaboration with Community Development and Infrastructure and the Office of Response, Recovery, and Resilience, will also be reaching out to the City of Watsonville, to ensure residents have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of energy projects in our region. Safety will always remain our highest priority.