How fears surrounding lithium-ion battery storage are leading to increased opposition

The Moss Landing battery storage fire in California has added kindling to the fears that energy storage projects – at least those using lithium-ion batteries – will lead to increased fire risks.

This was one of the central arguments during debate last week over the Rancho Viejo solar project near Santa Fe. The company behind the Rancho Viejo project has asked for a conditional use permit from Santa Fe County. The Santa Fe County Planning Commission last week voted 6-1 in favor of the project.

Fires like the one at Moss Landing in January are extremely rare. In the last decade, there have been about 20 fires at operating energy storage facilities in the United States, even as the number of battery storage facilities have increased exponentially.

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