-May 10,2023-
News analysis by John Lindt
A group of Morro Bay residents who call themselves Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation submitted a Citizens Initiative on May 1st, to the City of Morro Bay. They say it requires the City to follow zoning, adopted on May 25, 2021 by the City Council and approved by the California Coastal Commission on August 12, 2021, in its General Plan titled, “Plan Morro Bay.” This Citizens Initiative requires the City to keep the zoning on certain parcels labeled “Visitor Serving Commercial” and “Commercial Recreational Fishing” along the Embarcadero.
That includes the proposed Vistra Energy lithium battery plant location to the north of the stacks and the mothballed power plant on land last used to hold oil storage tanks. Oil was used to power the plant at one time and the big tanks were removed a few years ago.
The proposed battery plant on 24 acres is adjacent to a major PG&E substation where it will connect to the California grid – those high voltage power lines that climb the hills from Morro Bay criss-crossing SLO County and to the California transmission system. Not connecting this long existing power pathway to and from Morro Bay and to the solar farms to the east would arguably cause major regional power issues. The bottom line – this expensive connecting infrastructure is already in place.It has been long paid for.
Battery plants are designed to balance power supply and are said to help “keep the lights on” in statewide emergencies like heat waves or wildfires.
But this citizens group says they are not against clean power but are focusing on the proposed location of the battery modules located near the shore of Morro Bay to the north of the popular Embarcadero.
They say the plan for the land amounts to an industrial use that should be reserved for future visitor services.
The site,of course, has a long history of industrial use first by the US Navy, then Duke Energy and PG&E who all had a hand in building and operating 1000MW fossil-fueled 100ft tall concrete powerplant with three 360/ft tall smoke stacks – the very picture of industry.
This industrial landscape- side by side with fishing boats- has been part of Morro Bay’s image for decades and is as recognizable and not in a bad way, as Morro Rock itself is for tourists who visit this area.
Not that we couldn’t do better. This 1940s technology had clear downsides as Morro Bay knows. It polluted the air, harmed the estuary, warmed the water, and killed sea life for starters. Today the bay is cleaner and its habitat including eel grass is on the rebound to help feed the aquatic food chain.
The transformation here is part of a worldwide move toward clean energy like solar and wind and yes – battery storage -none of which heat the earth or add greenhouse gases that are in turn raising temps,boosting extreme weather events and acidifying the oceans.
OK, but don’t put these systems in our backyard,they argue. Critics point to the need to preserve Morro Bay’s fishing village atmosphere. Who wants to look at a battery plant while strolling out to the rock- right?
But Morro Bay’s Community Development Director Scot Graham reminds everyone that the deal with Vistra is that they take down the 1950s power plant on their nickel – clearing all the 107 acre site making it ready for future uses.The battery plant is three 30/ft tall buildings on 24 of those acres leaving three quarters of the cleared land to imagine by the community.
“It seems premature to rule out what we want to do while our impact study is underway including the safety aspects some are worried about.”
A report of fires at battery plants like nearby Moss Landing last year has raised safety questions. But the industry points to its widespread rollout and says it is safe
The draft impact study done by Rincon Consultants is likely this fall after which there will be community forums to discuss the report, Graham says
As to community sentiment on what should replace the old power plant, Graham says one forum held last made it clear residents had plenty of ideas beside hotel or tourist services.Now a formal community survey is expected to be released in a few months.
In a discussion on the Vistra plan last year the Tribune reported that “During the heatwave in September, up to 7 percent of the energy on the California grid came from batteries and they are performing superbly and safely,” said Vistra Community Affairs Director Brad Watson, who says the infrastructure is already in Morro Bay to quickly build up storage for solar and wind power.”
There is another aspect to all this.Many of the same critics don’t want the offshore wind project either and lump their concerns together.They fear plans could lead to some huge port facility in Morro Bay even though the bay will not accommodate anything larger than about a 120/ft boat. Heavyweight Long Beach is way ahead on securing the big wind port title.
So what is next?
The citizen group says by May 16th Morro Bay’s City Attorney will assign a title and ballot summary for the Citizens Initiative. After newspaper publication, it will be ready for signatures. They are hoping to begin our signature campaign by the end-of-May or beginning of June.
Graham says the group will need to collect over 800 signatures to get the restrictive measure on the ballot for next year in November or possibly in March.
The group says it has over 200 members. They say they are Morro Bay and surrounding city citizens who are “against the building of a battery storage plant down by the rock.” Administrators of their Facebook page are Judy Lynn Poudrier Setting and Betsy Gaudette-Cross. They say they want to:
(1) Protect the natural beauty, sensitivity, and intrinsic value of Morro Bay’s waterfront and Embarcadero;
(2) Prevent the visual and physical degradation of Morro Bay’s natural environment;
(3) Promote the health and safety of Morro Bay’s residents, tourists, boaters, and wildlife habitat;
(4) Maintain present levels of coastal access to our California Historic Landmark, Morro Rock, as well as to the Harbor, and surrounding beaches; and
(5) Preserve Morro Bay as a world-renowned tourist destination.