Based on the interview with Scott Murtishaw of the California Energy Storage Association (CESA), the primary barrier to energy storage adoption in California has shifted from policy and market integration to a more fundamental and challenging issue: local opposition fueled by safety concerns and misinformation. While California has successfully implemented the complex policy and market structures necessary for storage to thrive, the recent high-profile fires at the Gateway and Moss Landing facilities have amplified public fear and misunderstanding, creating a significant roadblock for new projects.
In stark contrast to the early days of the storage industry, the biggest challenge now is not technical or regulatory but social and political. The phenomenal growth of storage in California, from under 1,000MW before 2020 to a projected 21,000MW, demonstrates that the high-level policies are working. However, this growth has been shadowed by public anxiety following two of the world’s largest storage fires occurring within the state. This has created a narrative that the technology is inherently unsafe, even as the industry itself has evolved significantly to address these very risks. The core of the problem, as Murtashaw states, is “safety, safety, safety.”
The fundamental issue is a communication chasm between the industry and the public. The industry must first make a compelling case for why storage is an essential component of a reliable electric grid. This goes beyond just renewable integration; storage is crucial for keeping the lights on, particularly as electrification and demand growth strain the system. By framing the technology as a necessity, the industry can shift from a defensive position based on potential risks to a proactive one based on an undeniable need. However, this is what the industry must do in the face of local opposition where individuals and communities acknowledge the value of storage in concept but are firmly against its physical presence in their own geography.
The most effective communication strategy involves a dual approach: addressing the benefits in simple terms, then tackling the perceived risks head-on with evidence and a clear explanation of the technology’s evolution. The industry must move away from technical jargon and instead use relatable narratives that explain the reliability benefits of storage in protecting against blackouts and integrating renewables, and the impressive safety track record of modern, containerised storage. This format, which involves placing standardized, shipping container-like units in fields with space between them, is inherently safe due to its design that prevents the propagation of fire to the entire facility. The containerised design acts as a fire breaking, containing a fire to a small portion of the facility, which will self-consume in a few hours with no release of harmful materials. This emphasises the distinction between the modern way of building BESS and the legacy, indoor-building design used in older projects, which is where the biggest risks and fires have been concentrated.
Misinformation is a significant hurdle, and combating it needs the industry to be proactive, not reactive. CESA is working with members and partners like American Clean Power (ACP) to conduct public polling and message testing to create more effective communication materials for the public and local representatives. These material aim to present a clear, evidence-based picture of the events that have occurred, including real-time air quality data and the non-existence of soil and water impacts. The challenge is to get this accurate information in front of decision-makers and the public before widespread misinformation and disinformation take hold. CESA is finding allies in organisations like the Sierra Club and labor unions, who can help amplify the message and provide a more nuanced, independent perspective. This is an uphill battle, but there is a sense that early efforts are making a difference.
Murtagh provides a compelling example of the efficacy of this approach in a conversation with supervisors from Solano County. Some officials were making claims that agricultural soils were riddled with contamination from the Moss Landing fire. Murtagh were able to dispel this misinformation by pointing to studies from the University of California and the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Health, which showed that the impact on the soil would be negligible, with no loss of agricultural productivity. By countering false narrative with factual evidence, the discussion could be returned to a rational assessment. This example demonstrates that the key is to meet misinformation weapon with verifiable, credible data.
The other critical element to this story is the excellent role storage plays in integrating solar power and enhancing grid reliability. The original “duck curve” problem that plagued grid operators has been effectively “obliterated” by storage. Storage’s ability to absorb solar energy during peak middle hours and then release it to meet the evening demand has eliminated the need for those dramatic ramping cycles of gas plants. The proof of its value is irrefutable, as the system has become more resilient with each new deployment of storage. The state went from two rolling blackouts in 2020, to 11 Flex Alerts (conservation calls) in 2022, to zero since. 2022, with storage capacity having ballooned from 4,000MW to 21,000MW stores, the importance of storage to the grid is the clearest demonstration of its reliability benefit.
Scott Murtagh’s presentation at upcoming industry conferences, the Battery Asset Management Summit and the Solar & Storage Finance Summit, will be a critical opportunity to dissect these problems and discuss where storage goes from here. For the next decade, the key to unlocking storage’s full potential lies not in engineering advancements but in the industry’s ability to manage public perception, debunk misinformation, and share the story of how energy storage is creating a more reliable and sustainable grid for everyone. Addressing this specific, significant set of challenges will make the tale of storage in California a story of policy success that evolved into a testament to social and technological acceptance.