Article

On January 13, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors will review proposed regulations for large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in unincorporated areas, aiming to amend the county's General Plan and County Code. The draft ordinance includes requirements for setbacks from residences, emergency access, noise limits, and environmental reviews, while also addressing agricultural impacts with a 3-to-1 resource replacement ratio. A status report is expected in August, with recommendations for adoption by November.