Battery storage

Aptos resident urged 10% of tax money for roads, cited Cathedral Drive decay and unkept Measure G/K promises, and promoted a lithium battery storage info event.

Opposed lithium battery storage sites and criticized pro-Diablo Canyon commentary, citing cost figures.

Supported road repair as the board's top job, invited residents to a lithium battery facility meeting, and asked for a non-flammable battery ordinance and Supervisor Martinez's recusal from 3CE votes.

Raised concerns about firewise brush removal causing erosion, lithium battery facilities, and asked for a non-flammable battery ordinance.

Aptos resident urged tabling item 21 and raised concerns about PG&E infrastructure and battery storage siting.

Thanked Supervisor De Serpa for pulling the battery storage item and urged the board to hear fire-safety concerns fully.

A retired Silicon Valley scientist argued the Minto Road design is far safer than Moss Landing's — fuses, sealed containers, thermal shutdown — though he questioned the narrow access road.

Asked the board to view the ordinance through a public safety lens, cited Vacaville's CEQA-exempt BESS ordinance, and handed over the Pajaro Valley fire ad hoc committee report and Watsonville letters.

Asked the board to postpone the entire discussion to the next meeting with advance public notice, arguing it was improperly buried on consent and lithium batteries still burn.

Cited 25% farmland loss since 1990, invoked the voter-approved 1978 Measure J growth management initiative, and urged the board to limit BESS to industrially zoned parcels with non-flammable battery chemistry.

Thanked the prior scientific speaker but echoed concerns about farmland loss, fire impacts, and the improper consent-calendar process.

Quoted John Locke on property rights, recalled witnessing the Moss Landing fire from 12 miles away, and questioned how much community benefit the facility actually provides.

Said the item never belonged on consent, wanted presentations from community experts, and cited an LA County firefighters' cease-and-desist demand regarding BESS near fire stations and residences.

Urged supervisors not to water down the battery ordinance after New Leaf filed a preliminary application with the California Energy Commission, and asked for Spanish-language announcements of translation availability.

Warned that CATL lithium batteries planned for the Minto Road site are made in China, wirelessly monitored, and were banned at other federal facilities over espionage and human rights concerns.

Called in to say the revelations show the county must slow down and strengthen the battery ordinance, suggesting non-flammable vanadium alternatives.

Called in urging a ban on lithium battery sites in Watsonville and opposing county AI projects over water, energy and pollution concerns.

Called in to oppose the lithium battery facility, citing fire risks and arguing alternative energy solutions were abandoned decades ago.

Urged the board not to place anything near communities that jeopardizes food and water.