top of page
College Lake.jpg

ABOUT

White Tailed Kite.jpg

WE ARE YOU.  THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY.

At STOP Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County we are more than just neighbors — we’re advocates for preserving the safety, beauty, and health of our shared home in Santa Cruz County. Together, we stand to protect what matters most:

  • Our neighborhoods

  • Our families

  • Our schools

  • Our hospitals and care facilities

  • Our farms

  • Our businesses

  • Our churches

  • Our water

  • And the wildlife that makes this place so unique

JOIN US IN SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITY

Santa Cruz County is more than a place — it's our home.  And we have the power to protect it. Together, we can ensure our voices are heard and our future alongside the future of our beautiful county's precious environment remains bright.

Take Action Now:
Learn more about the county's proposed BESS plans.  Learn more about the first proposed BESS project at 90 Minto Road, and what you can do to help.
Explore the Proposed 90 Minto Road BESS Project and the County's BESS Rezoning Ordinance Draft Here

Explore How You Can Help and How to Get Involved Here

Let’s stand together to preserve what makes our community extraordinary.

OUR MISSION

STOP Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County is committed to:

  • Organizing:  Uniting neighbors, businesses, and local groups to create a powerful collective voice.

  • Educating:  Providing factual, accessible information about the risks of  lithium -based BESS facilities.

  • Advocating:  Engaging with local governments, businesses, and organizations to demand responsible action that prioritizes community safety and health.

THE THREAT WE FACE

The County Board of Supervisors' plans for rezoning the county to install three BESS sites could put everything we cherish at risk.  The first of these  lithium -ion BESS facilities is already in queue at County planning with an application submitted by Sequoia Energy Storage 1, LLC and renewable energy developer New Leaf Energy.  This 200 MW, 800 MWh industrial-scale facility, sited on 14-16 acres of an apple orchard at 90 Minto Road, only 500 feet from the nearest residential neighborhood and only 500 feet uphill from College Lake, comes with serious concerns:

  • Fire Risks: BESS facilities have a history of catastrophic, toxic  lithium  battery fires.

  • Toxic Fumes: The release of harmful chemicals could jeopardize the health of residents and wildlife.

  • Environmental Impact: Waste, pollution, soil and water contamination and ecosystem damage threaten the future of our local environment, our economy and our quality of life.

Our state is committed to decarbonization by 2045.  Many of us support that goal.  We are not opposed to safe battery storage.  However, we do not support  lithium -ion battery energy storage when it is deployed near and amidst residential areas, agricultural land and natural habitats.

We have researched  lithium -ion BESS facilities extensively — their risks and hazards — and it is clear that they are not ‘green’.  They are a short term solution to a long term problem.   We now know that there are safe alternatives.  Gen3 and Gen4 storage solutions are around the corner.  They are stable and don’t burn or explode.  They don’t emit toxic gasses.  Korea, China and elsewhere are beginning installations.  The rush to deploy  lithium -ion battery energy storage systems next to communities is potentially disastrous.

This isn't just about us; it's about the legacy we leave for future generations.

bottom of page