The recent add against A-24 grossly misstates what A-24 will accomplish if passed and sprouts joyful feelings for the Battery Energy Storage System. A-24 only covers the zoning of the property at the old PG&E power plant, which is currently zoned Visitor Serving-Commercial and Commercial/Recreational Fishing, per the city plan. The City Council can negotiate a contract with a business for use of the property. It is only if the agreement that the City Council makes seeks to change the zoning from the current designation will A-24 go into effect and required the citizens to vote on the new zoning request.
If A-24 vote to not change the zoning passes, Vistra can apply to the California Energy Commission (CEC) to allow the major renewable energy facility. The CEC can overrule the zoning issue, it does not have the power to void any contract between the city and Vistra. If the city and their experts are worth the money paid, there will be a clause in the contract insuring this does not happen. Most importantly, the CEC does not have power over the California Coastal Commission (CCC), which has the final say on what can be built at the subject location.
Many wonder why an A-24 vote is necessary. It gives the citizens of Morro Bay a say in how they want their community to grow. It sends a message to the Morro Bay City Council as to what the majority of the citizens of this town want. Not just what the majority on the city council wants for Morro Bay. That is democracy.
Additionally, as to the issue of the old power plant. Morro Bay does not need Vistra or anyone else to pay for the clean-up. There are grants available to pay for the clean-up of defunct energy plants. The EPA has a program to assist towns just like ours in the clean-up of decommissioned energy plants with remediation and redevelopment. The EPA also assists in obtaining grant funds to pay for just what Vistra is promising. Vistra is willing to handle the clean-up as they are obtaining grant money from the government to pay for it. The clean-up is not coming out of their bank account.
Finally and most importantly, there are risks to not only ourselves, but the incredible natural beauty of our area. BESS’ suffer from risk of thermal run away wherein the facility will catch on fire sending toxic fumes into the air. Vistra’s Draft EIR claimed the risks were minimal to humans, but there was no mention of wildlife and vegetation. If the risks are so minimal, why must everyone shelter in place and the road be closed? This technology is in its infancy and the long-term effects from it are currently unknown. No one is against renewable energy. There is just no good reason to build one in a location as watery as the one proposed. Why would we want to risk our community and this irreplaceable ecosystem in which we have been blessed.
I urge everyone to vote Yes on A-24. Thank you for your consideration.
Ronda C. Hash
Morro Bay