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Panelists at the California Energy Storage Alliance’s annual conference discussed how to address community concerns about grid-scale battery safety. They pointed to a reported decline in battery failures, stronger safety rules and the role of trusted first responders, while recent fires and opposition to proposed projects show that public acceptance remains a challenge.
Energy and community representatives at the California Energy Storage Alliance’s annual conference in Sacramento discussed ways to address public concerns about grid-scale batteries, as fires and local opposition complicate plans to expand storage. The panel cited safety data, emergency preparedness and community engagement as possible ways to build trust, but did not establish a single approach that would resolve resistance to proposed projects.
California has about 21 gigawatts of grid battery capacity, according to the source report, making it the state with the second-largest battery capacity after Texas. The report says California will need to more than double its current capacity by 2045 to meet its climate goals. At the conference, panelists said communities need clear, credible information as battery projects expand.
California Energy Commissioner Noemí Gallardo cited Electric Power Research Institute data showing a 98% decrease in lithium-ion grid battery failures worldwide from 2018 to 2025. The figure refers to failures over that stated period; the source report did not provide the underlying dataset or further details on how failures were counted. Gallardo said the data indicate improving safety, while acknowledging that disaster images can outweigh statistical information for residents.
Recent incidents remain a major part of the debate. A battery installation at Moss Landing caught fire in January 2025, prompting nearby evacuations, and the source report says it ignited again the following month. A fire at a smaller battery system in La Verne also led to evacuations. California strengthened battery fire-safety regulations and practices last year, the report says, while noting that current utility-scale systems are built to higher safety standards intended to prevent Moss Landing-type fires.
Safety Trust Shapes Storage Plans
The dispute affects whether California can add storage at the pace its climate goals require. Batteries can store electricity for later use, but proposals may face delays or cancellation when residents, local officials or emergency services have unresolved safety concerns. The conference discussion matters because it focused not only on technical standards but on who communities trust and how those concerns are addressed before a project is built.
A panelist from the Reliable Grid Project, Ashanti Washington, said focus groups her organization conducted with Data for Progress in three California communities found that first responders ranked highly as trusted sources on battery safety. That finding suggests emergency planning and direct engagement with local fire agencies may help inform residents. It does not show that public support will necessarily follow or that the same trust patterns hold in every community.
The examples in the report point to different outcomes. Alameda County officials worked with the California Energy Commission on the proposed 400-megawatt Potentia-Viridi project, while protests led a developer to abandon a proposed 320-megawatt project in San Diego County. The difference underscores how local conditions and engagement can shape project prospects, even as statewide policy and safety rules evolve.
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Recent Fires Frame Local Debate
The panel followed a series of highly visible battery fires that have heightened public concern. The source report says the Moss Landing facility fire in January 2025 resulted in evacuations, and that the site caught fire again the next month. A separate fire at a smaller system in La Verne also prompted evacuations. The report says images and discussion of such incidents have circulated on social media, alongside misinformation, though it does not quantify that misinformation.
State oversight is one route being used to address safety during project review. The Potentia-Viridi project in rural Alameda County received approval earlier this year through the CEC’s Opt-In Certification program, which offers expedited state review for eligible energy projects. Clearway Energy Group communications manager Julia Poska said county officials welcomed the commission’s technical expertise and its work with local fire agencies. She also said the project’s remote location helped; projects in populated areas can be harder to sell.
State involvement can also be contentious. The source report says a developer’s attempt to use the CEC process backfired in at least one case, but does not identify the project or explain the circumstances. So the conference discussion reflects a broader challenge: state review may bring technical expertise, but it does not automatically settle disputes over siting or local decision-making.
“Even though there is a minority of people saying batteries are not safe, this data shows they are.”
— Noemí Gallardo, California Energy Commissioner
Safety Data And Local Support
The source report does not provide the Electric Power Research Institute’s methodology, the number of failures behind the reported 98% decline, or a comparison of failure rates by battery design or project type. The figure is a worldwide measure for 2018–2025 and does not establish the risk at any particular California site.
It also remains unclear how much new state rules have changed the likelihood or consequences of fires, and whether the standards applied to newer installations will address the concerns raised by past incidents. The report describes the rules as strengthened but does not detail their provisions or enforcement.
Public response will likely vary by location. The report gives examples of both cooperation and project opposition, but does not provide polling results, explain the San Diego developer’s reasons for withdrawing, or identify the case in which use of the state review process backfired. It is not yet clear whether the conference recommendations will lead to specific statewide engagement requirements.
Project Reviews And Community Outreach
The next developments will come through project permitting and local emergency planning. The CEC’s Opt-In Certification process is one avenue for state review, while project developers and local agencies may also work directly with fire departments and residents. The source report does not identify a new statewide policy or formal follow-up plan announced at the conference.
For projects under consideration, the panelists’ suggestions point to practical steps: share safety information with clear explanations of its limits, involve first responders early, and describe the clean-energy role of storage without treating that benefit as a substitute for addressing local risks. Whether those efforts change public views will become clearer as proposed facilities move through review and communities respond.
Key Questions
What did the Sacramento panel discuss?
Panelists discussed how to respond to concerns about grid-scale battery safety, including sharing safety data, involving first responders and coordinating with state agencies and local fire departments.
What safety trend did the panel cite?
California Energy Commissioner Noemí Gallardo cited Electric Power Research Institute data showing a 98% decrease in worldwide lithium-ion grid battery failures from 2018 to 2025. The source report did not provide details on the dataset or counting method.
Why are some Californians concerned about battery projects?
Recent fires, including incidents at Moss Landing and La Verne that led to evacuations, have contributed to public concern. Residents may also have questions about emergency response, project locations and safety rules.
Can state review guarantee local support?
No. The report describes a 400-megawatt Alameda County project that received CEC approval and a proposed San Diego County project abandoned after protests. State technical review may inform safety planning, but local support is not assured.
What happens next for battery projects?
Projects will continue through permitting and review, with state agencies, local officials and fire departments involved where applicable. The conference report did not announce a new statewide rule or a formal next step.
Source: rss
