San Diego’s Demand for Battery Storage Remains
| Energy Storage
At the end of March 2026, California’s energy grid reached a milestone as battery storage provided a record-breaking 40 percent of the state’s electricity during the critical evening hours when our grid is most strained. It is clear: batteries are now the backbone of the state’s power grid.
The recent withdrawal of the Seguro battery storage project after five years of planning highlights a frustrating disconnect.
Seguro is gone, but San Diego’s demand for batteries remains.
Battery storage keeps the power on and our homes and businesses functioning when electricity demand peaks and prevents blackouts during heat waves. As an essential piece of San Diego’s clean energy future, it also must be accelerated to achieve our 100 percent renewable energy goal and net-zero carbon future.
While headlines are often dominated by the loudest voices in the room, recent public opinion data reveals a quieter truth: a majority of San Diegans overwhelmingly support the clean energy transition as well as the battery energy storage projects needed to make it happen.
This public opinion survey led by Cleantech San Diego polled 856 San Diego County residents from all five supervisorial districts and showed that 65 percent support California’s transition to clean energy, 66 percent support battery storage in San Diego County, and 57 percent would support battery storage in their neighborhoods.
It is worth noting that this survey was conducted immediately following the L.A. wildfires and the Moss Landing battery storage system fire. Even with these recent events top of mind, respondents stood behind their support for battery storage projects with an understanding of their essential role in a safer, cleaner and more resilient grid.
California recently doubled battery capacity in 2022, and since that time has not issued a single Flex Alert, even during the hottest July on record in 2024. With almost 17,000 megawatts of batteries installed, storage is the difference-maker.
Batteries are also safe, and fire impacts are limited. Modern battery systems are regulated under NFPA 855, the national fire safety standard updated every three years. Comprehensive safety planning, testing and monitoring are required before any system is permitted. And local testing during recent fire incidents has consistently found no threat to public health.
The San Diego region has always been a leader in renewable energy generation. As an early adopter of battery storage, we have learned where improvements could be made. Today’s systems incorporate those lessons to improve performance and safety. From automobiles to artificial intelligence, being at technology’s forefront has always brought periods of heightened public concern, particularly when incidents occur. Battery storage is no different. But these moments also drive rapid engineering improvements and stronger standards, and over time, what once felt unfamiliar becomes routine.
San Diego remains uniquely poised to maintain its momentum and continue leading California’s energy transition.
As new battery projects are evaluated across the county, I encourage decision-makers to embrace a new narrative led by the fact that a majority of San Diegans are saying ‘yes’ to clean energy for our communities – even in their backyards.
View San Diego Battery Storage Fact Sheet
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