Chapter 17.109 — BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE FACILITIES

The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for the installation and use of battery energy storage facilities. The standards set forth herein are intended to protect the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life for the general public, to ensure compatible land uses in the areas affected by battery energy storage facilities and to mitigate the impacts of battery energy storage facilities on the environment. (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

The requirements of this chapter shall apply to all utility-scale battery energy storage facilities permitted, installed, or modified after the effective date of this chapter, excluding general maintenance and repair. Utility-scale battery energy storage facilities constructed or installed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall not be required to meet the requirements of this chapter. Modifications to, retrofits, or replacements of an existing battery energy storage facility that increases the total battery energy storage system designed discharge duration or power rating shall be subject to this

chapter. All proposed battery energy storage facility sites within existing properties owned by the Southern California Edison Company and the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter. (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

• A. Location Requirements. Siting battery energy storage facilities shall comply with the following locations:

  1. Neo-Industrial (NI) or Industrial Employment (IE) Zones with the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit as shown in Table 17.30.030-1.

  2. Maximum 1 mile from the connecting utility as measured from the nearest point of each parcel boundary.

  3. Minimum 1,000 feet from residentially zoned properties as measured from the nearest point of each parcel boundary.

• B. Maximum Lot Size. Ten acres net. Sites 10 acres or greater will require a Master Plan application subject to the approval of City Council as outlined in Section 17.22.020 (Master Plan).

• C. Setbacks. Battery energy storage facilities shall maintain at least a 10-foot setback from all property lot lines.

• D. Screening.

  1. The site for a battery energy storage facility shall be fully enclosed by a minimum six-foot, non-scalable solid wall. The walls shall consist of either decorative concrete masonry block or decorative concrete tilt-up walls.

  2. Landscaping is required along the outer edge of the solid wall. See chapter 17.56 (Landscaping Standards) for landscaping standards.

• E. Hardscape. All driveways and pathways between battery energy storage system structures, and any other associated pad-mounted structures, shall contain pervious pavement or similar material (e.g., gravel).

• F. Lighting. On-site lighting shall be limited to the minimally required amount for safety and operational purposes. See chapter 17.58 (Outdoor Lighting Standards) for lighting standards.

• G. Parking and Access. Parking and access for battery energy storage facilities shall be provided as follows:

  1. Battery energy storage facilities shall provide a minimum of one parking space for maintenance vehicles.

  2. The site for a battery energy storage facility shall provide access for a maintenance vehicle. The access shall comply with the dimensional standards in chapter 17.64 (Parking and Loading Standards).

  3. The driveway entrance shall have a locking gate. The gate shall be tubular steel wrought iron and shall be backed by perforated metal sheeting painted to match the gate.

• H. Noise.

  1. Battery energy storage facilities are subject to the noise standards as outlined in Section 17.66.050 (Noise Standards). Applicants shall submit equipment and component manufacturer's noise ratings to demonstrate compliance.

  2. At the discretion of the planning director, a separate noise study may be required.

• I. Signage.

  1. All signage shall be in compliance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z535 and include the type of technology associated with the battery energy storage systems, any special hazards associated, the type of suppression system installed in the area of battery energy storage systems, and 24-hour emergency contact information.

2. As required by the National Electric Code (NEC), disconnect and other emergency shutoff information shall be clearly displayed on a light reflective surface. A clearly visible warning sign concerning voltage shall be placed at the base of all pad-mounted transformers and substations.

• J. Building and Construction Codes. Battery energy storage facilities shall comply with all applicable standards of the Building and Construction Regulations of the City of Rancho Cucamonga and the adopted Fire Code. See title 15 (Buildings and Construction).

• K. Utility Undergrounding. Utilities shall be undergrounded unless prohibited by Southern California Edison or the Rancho Cucamonga Municipal Utility. Such prohibition of undergrounding utilities shall be provided in writing to the planning director.

(Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

All applications shall include an emergency operations plan. A copy of the approved emergency operations plan shall be given to the system owner, the fire marshal, and the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District. A permanent copy shall also be placed in an approved location to be accessible to facility personnel, fire officials, and emergency responders. The emergency operations plan shall include the following information:

• A. Procedures for safe shutdown, de-energizing, or isolation of equipment and systems under emergency conditions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injuries, and for safe start-up following cessation of emergency conditions.

• B. Procedures for inspection and testing of associated alarms, interlocks, and controls.

• C. Procedures to be followed in response to notifications from the battery management system, when provided, that could signify potentially dangerous conditions, including shutting down equipment, summoning service and repair personnel, and providing agreed upon notification to emergency personnel for potentially hazardous conditions in the event of a system failure.

• D. Emergency procedures to be followed in case of fire, explosions, release of liquids or vapors, damage to critical moving parts, or other potentially dangerous conditions. Procedures may include sounding the alarm, notifying the fire district, evacuating personnel, de-energizing equipment, and controlling and extinguishing the fire.

• E. Procedures for dealing with battery energy storage facility equipment damaged in a fire or other emergency event, including maintaining contact information for personnel qualified to safely remove damaged battery energy storage system equipment from the facility.

• F. Other procedures as determined necessary by city officials to provide for the safety of neighboring properties and emergency responders.

• G. Procedures and schedules for conducting drills of these procedures and for training local first responders on the contents of the plan and appropriate response procedures.

• (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

All applications shall include a decommissioning plan. The decommissioning plan shall include the following:

• A. A narrative description of the activities to be accomplished, including who will perform that activity and at what point in time, for complete physical removal of all battery energy storage facility components, structures, equipment, security barriers, and transmission lines from the site.

• B. Disposal of all solid and hazardous waste in accordance with local, state, and federal waste disposal regulations.

• C. The anticipated life of the battery energy storage facility.

• D. The estimated decommissioning costs and how the estimate was determined.

• E. The method of ensuring that funds will be available for decommissioning and restoration.

• F. The manner in which the site will be restored, including a description of how any changes to the surrounding areas and other systems adjacent to the battery energy storage facility, such as structural elements, means of egress, and required fire detection suppression systems, will be protected during decommissioning and confirmed as being acceptable after the facility is removed.

• G. A listing of any contingencies for removing an intact operational battery energy storage system unit(s) from service, and for removing a battery energy storage system(s) unit from service that has been damaged by a fire or other event.

• H. The owner and/or operator of the battery energy storage facility shall implement the decommissioning plan upon abandonment and/or in conjunction with removal of the facility.

• I. The owner and/or operator of the battery energy storage facility shall continuously maintain a fund payable to the city, in a form and amount approved by the city for the removal of the battery energy storage facility, for the period of the life of the facility. All costs shall be borne by the applicant.

• (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

A new owner or operator of a battery energy storage facility shall notify the planning department of such change in ownership or operator within 30 days of the ownership or operator change. (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)

The battery energy storage facility shall be considered abandoned when it ceases to operate for more than one year. If the owner and/or operator fails to comply with the decommissioning plan under section 17.109.050 upon abandonment, the city may, at its discretion, enter the property and utilize the available bond and/or security for the removal of a battery energy storage facility and restoration of the site in accordance with the decommissioning plan. (Ord. No. 1031, 10/15/2024)