After numerous Public Records Requests and many inquiring emails, here’s what we have uncovered thus far:
Conflicting statements about the critical water supply that signal serious issues in the planning or approval process of the Zeta BESS (Battery Energy Storage System).
San Luis Water District denies any agreement to provide water, directly contradicting claims in the project documents.
Emails from Steve Stadler of San Luis Water Dist.. (from a Public Records Act request) confirm no such agreement exists.
The City of Los Banos also denies being a supplier of water.
PG&E’s EIR response requires a definitive water source for landscape irrigation, fire mitigation. The EIR and official documentation appear to lack clarity and consistency.
These inconsistencies could indicate either:
Misrepresentation or premature claims in the environmental review documents, or a breakdown in coordination between the developer, agencies, and the EIR consultants.
ACTIONS that can be taken:
– Request a revised or supplemental EIR: Based on these material inconsistencies, especially if the water supply is critical to project approval under CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act).
– Submit a formal letter or public comment highlighting these discrepancies.
– Ask the lead agency (likely the County) for clarification on whether they consider the EIR complete without a verified water source.
It sounds like there is a significant lack of transparency and consistency in the communication surrounding the water supply for the proposed facility—especially given the implications for local infrastructure and public resources.
If the Notice of Preparation (N.O.P.) explicitly stated (and it did) that the City of Los Banos would supply potable water, that represents an official commitment, or at least a formal assumption in the environmental review process.
Yet, if:
San Luis Water District has denied supplying any potable or non-potable water;
No new wells are to be drilled;
And yet a project spokesperson, Emily McCrorie of Longroad Energy Development, L.L.C., claims an existing well will be used (without naming which one);—then there’s a contradiction that must be resolved before project approval can ethically and legally move forward. This issue directly affects ratepayers and raises concerns about resource allocation, capacity planning, and environmental review integrity.
Also, during the CEQA process, the N.O.P. phase is meant to surface exactly these kinds of inconsistencies so they can be addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
It’s entirely appropriate for the public to demand clear documentation on:
Where the potable water or non-potable is coming from;
Who is providing it;
What the infrastructure impacts will be;
And how any commitments affect existing residents.
All of this reflects serious concerns about transparency, due diligence, and public safety in the already-approved ZETA B.E.S.S. (Battery Energy Storage System) project by the Merced County Planning Department and Board of Supervisors (B.O.S.).
The questions raised—regarding whether decision-makers had sufficient information and fully understood the information, whether public safety was adequately considered, and why there was no confirmed water source or fire mitigation plan—are valid points in any infrastructure or energy-related development, especially one involving high-risk technology like lithium battery storage.
Submitted by:
Los Banos Citizens who oppose the
Zeta B.E.S.S. Project in
Merced County
“Los Banos Says NO”