Amid San Gabriel Valley data center concerns, local critics question battery energy storage hubs

A growing coalition across the San Gabriel Valley in California has intensified its opposition to data centers and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities, holding an educational rally in Rowland Heights. Critics argue these technologies, particularly BESS facilities seen as potential power sources for data centers, pose health risks and strain public utilities. Despite public pushback, the City of Industry City Council unanimously approved an application from energy utility developer AYPA Power for the Marici BESS Facility along Gale Avenue. This decision followed earlier concerns at a planning commission meeting about the BESS facility potentially leading to a data center, which AYPA and the city deny. The project involves a 9.2-acre site and minor adjustments to a substation, with an expected yearly electricity demand of 584,000 kilowatt-hours. In Covina, officials are also facing scrutiny over the Covina Reliability Project, a potential 110 MW BESS facility scheduled for 2027 by energy company RWE Clean Energy. Covina Council member Walter Allen III clarified that the city had not considered linking the BESS project to a data center, expressing frustration over public confusion. Last June, Covina’s Council passed an emergency moratorium against BESS facilities due to health hazard concerns, influenced by a major fire at a BESS facility in Moss Landing, Monterey County, which burned for two days and released toxic smoke. Subsequently, an ordinance in September added BESS facilities to the city’s municipal code; data centers are not currently in Covina's code. Other municipalities in the San Gabriel Valley are also responding to data center concerns. A data center project in Monterey Park was withdrawn due to significant pushback, leading to a June ballot measure to ban such centers. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors commissioned a study on the potential strain on public utilities and health effects. El Monte is pushing for a moratorium against data centers, and school districts like Bassett Unified School District have passed resolutions against development, with others like Walnut Valley Unified and Pomona Unified School Districts in talks to follow suit. Diamond Bar Council member Andrew Chou stated his city's zoning does not allow data centers and he opposes changing these laws. City of Industry officials acknowledge neighboring concerns but affirm their established project review processes will continue.