Work Party @ Backcountry Resource Center - Oct 30, 10am-noon
The July 10 Planning Commission hearing marked an important milestone for the proposed Starlight Solar Project. While the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a modified project, this is not the final decision. The project now moves to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, which is tentatively scheduled to consider it on September 16, 2026.
Thanks to months of research, outreach, and community involvement, Boulevard's concerns became the focus of the hearing. Residents, property owners, business owners, community leaders, and supporters spoke thoughtfully about wildfire safety, emergency evacuation, groundwater protection, cumulative impacts, environmental justice, and preserving the rural character of the Mountain Empire.
What happened at the Planning Commission was unprecedented. Before the project has even reached the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission recommended significant changes because our community came together with a unified voice. Our community was organized, respectful, well-prepared, and supported our concerns with expert testimony, research, videos, and thoughtful presentations. That level of community involvement and the resulting changes rarely happens before a Board hearing.
In response to community concerns, the Commission recommended several important modifications and additional conditions, including:
Independent third-party review of the plume analysis
Water containment barriers beneath all battery energy storage systems
Phase 2 batteries moved farther from nearby homes
Additional dust monitoring and accountability
Reduction of the project footprint from 588 to 500 acres
Increased setbacks
Non-toxic herbicides
Use of the Empire Ranch pond for fire suppression
A $7 million Community Impact Fund paid as cash instead of utility bill credits
While these recommendations represent meaningful progress, they do not change the community's opposition to the project. Residents remain firmly opposed to locating one of California's largest battery energy storage facilities within a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Throughout the review process, community members have consistently communicated to the County that this is the wrong project in the wrong location.
At the same time, the community has advocated for meaningful improvements that would reduce risk and lessen the project's impacts if the County ultimately chooses to approve it. This approach recognizes that the County has the authority to approve projects through overriding considerations. If approval occurs despite widespread community opposition, securing every possible improvement is essential to better protect residents, property, and the surrounding environment.
Our message reached far beyond the hearing room. The meeting was covered by six major news outlets - KPBS, San Diego Union-Tribune, East County Magazine, NBC 7, CBS 8, and FOX 5/KUSI - bringing countywide attention to the important questions our community has been asking:
Is a utility-scale battery storage facility appropriate in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone?
Is it fair for the Mountain Empire to continue carrying a disproportionate share of the region's industrial energy infrastructure?
Can San Diego County meet its clean energy goals while also protecting rural communities?
Planning Commission Chair Bryan Ashman recognized the extraordinary public participation, stating:
"It's very rare to have a hearing with so much involvement from the community, so much passion."
The Planning Commission's recommendation is only one step in the process. The Board of Supervisors will make the final decision.
Since the Planning Commission hearing, several local residents have continued carefully reviewing the Environmental Impact Report and project documents. Through that work, it has been identified what is believed to be a significant unresolved issue: the project still does not appear to have a clearly identified, reliable, and legally secured water source for construction. This raises important questions regarding whether the Environmental Impact Report adequately addresses the project's impacts and whether the project can meet CEQA requirements and County regulations. County staff and the applicant are being pressed to resolve this issue before the project moves forward.
Advocacy is continuing for additional safety improvements, including moving all battery energy storage systems, including Phase 1, to the furthest southern portion of the project, away from homes and primary evacuation routes. Every battery moved farther from residents reduces potential risk and provides greater protection for our community should an emergency occur.
The recent Thorn Fire is a powerful reminder that wildfire is not a hypothetical concern in Boulevard. It is part of the reality of living here. That is why the location of one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in San Diego County deserves the highest level of scrutiny.
To everyone who attended meetings, submitted comments, spoke at the hearing, reviewed technical documents, shared information, or encouraged a neighbor to get involved - thank you!
Together, our town accomplished something remarkable. We demonstrated what can happen when a rural community comes together with a common purpose, stays organized, and speaks with one unified voice. It is proving that informed, organized citizens can shape the outcome of major County decisions. The changes already recommended by the Planning Commission are evidence that community voices matter and that thoughtful advocacy can make a real difference.
Please contact all five members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and respectfully ask them to vote NO on the Starlight Solar Project.
As our District 2 Supervisor, Joel Anderson's vote is especially important for our community. You can reach his office at (619) 531-5522. We also encourage you to contact the other four Supervisors and respectfully share why protecting Boulevard and the Mountain Empire matters to you. Every email, phone call, and public comment helps ensure our elected leaders understand what is at stake.
Contact info for all Supervisors can be found at https://nostarlightsolar.com/
Together, we have already accomplished something many thought was impossible. Now let's finish what we started.