ON APRIL 4, 2025, VISTRA SENT THE CITY A LETTER WITHDRAWING ITS APPLICATION FOR CITY ENTITLEMENTS TO CONSTRUCT A BESS FACILITY AT THE FORMER POWER PLANT PROPERTY IN MORRO BAY.

April 22, 2025 City letter to Vistra

• City Letter to Vistra acknowledging Vistra's request for withdrawal

April 10, 2025 Press Release: Vistra Withdraws Application to Construct a BESS

• Press Release: Vistra Withdraws Application to Construct a BESS

April 4, 2025 Vistra letter to City requesting withdrawal of the BESS project

• Vistra letter to City requesting withdrawal of the BESS project entitlement applications
  

March 12, 2025 City letter to Vistra - A Collaborative Path Forward

• City letter to Vistra - A Collaborative Path Forward for 1290 Embarcadero

October 24, 2024 Letter from Vistra Corporation

• Notification of Morro Bay Energy Storage Proposal "Pause"
• City of Morro Bay Response Letter

September 24, 2024 City Council Meeting

• BESS Status Update and Timeline
• Summary of Off-Site Consequence Analysis

August 2, 2024 Coastal Commission Letter on BESS Project

• Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System (CCC - August 2, 2024)

Vistra’s May 31, 2024 Economic and Fiscal Impact Analysis of the proposed BESS Project

• Economic and Fiscal Impacts Analysis (Brattle - May 2024)

The City cannot attest to the accuracy of this analysis and will hire a land use economics consulting firm to peer review and supplement the Brattle Analysis.

Draft EIR Public Comment Letters

The City has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed BESS project at 1290 Embarcadero. The EIR documents are now available for public review at the links below:

• Notice of Availability
• BESS Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), March 2024 - Volume 1 of 2
• BESS Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR), March 2024 Appendices - Volume 2 of 2
• Notice of Completion & Environmental Document Transmittal
• State Clearinghouse Summary Form
• PowerPoint Presentation Draft EIR BESS 05.07.24

The Draft EIR for the Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was available for public review and comment from March 11 through May 28, 2024.  This 79-day public review period exceeds the 45-day review period required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Each comment letter received during that time will be included in the Final EIR for the project, as well as responses to each comment.  As a result of these responses, there could be modifications to the Draft EIR.

Although not required under CEQA, these comment letters are posted here on the City's website at this link in advance of the preparation of the Final EIR, in order to provide the public an opportunity to understand the nature of input received during the public review period for the Draft EIR. These comment letters are further being provided under the California Records Act in response to requests. The EIR consultant is currently preparing responses to the comments received, which, as noted above, will be included in the Final EIR.

• BESS Comments 2024 (combined file)
  • Please use the below links if you have trouble downloading the combined file
    • Batch 1 of 3
    • Batch 2 of 3
    • Batch 3 of 3

If you would like to receive updates on the BESS project website, please sign up for Notify Me to receive email notice updates. 

Power Plant Master Plan

The Planning Commission held a study session at its next meeting on 2/20/2024 at the Veteran's Memorial Building, 209 Surf Street, at 6pm. The purpose of the study session was to solicit additional input to assist with the development of the Draft Master Plan for the 107-acre property. Rincon, the City's planning consultant, presented a presentation on the status of the Master Plan, the work completed to date, and draft vision and guiding goals and objectives for the Master Plan. The study session will not be discussing the planning permit application or environmental review for the separately pending BESS project.  

The link to view the Planning Commission staff report and a copy of the Draft Power Plant Master Plan exhibit is here.

The Master Plan for the Morro Bay Power Plant property started in 2022 as a result of the General Plan/ Local Coastal Plan policy LU 5-4 which requires the development of a master plan as a result of the planning permit application received for the Battery Energy Storage System Project.  The goal of the Master Plan is to establish a vision and plan for the growth and development of the Power Plant site and surrounding area. The first community workshop was held on September 14, 2022, to seek input and feedback. 

Master Plan Community Survey Results

A community survey for the Power Plant Master Plan was open between January and February 2023. Results from that survey are provided below. The survey questions focused on seeking the community's land use preferences, circulation improvements, and design amenities for the overall 107-acre property.

• Master Plan Survey Summary Memo and Community Responses

Prior (2022) BESS meetings and notices:

Vistra representatives held a Community Meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at the Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way from 530pm -730pm.  The purpose of the meeting was to share information and answer questions about the proposed Battery Energy Storage System project at 1290 Embarcadero.  Note, this is not a City-sponsored event. To view the Vistra flyer announcing this meeting, please click here.
 
Master Plan Community Workshop - A community workshop was held Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Veteran's Memorial Building at 209 Surf Street from 6-830pm for the Morro Bay Power Plant Master Plan workshop.  The workshop was an opportunity for residents and stakeholders to share input on the future of this property.  More information including a brief agenda is available here Version Options Vistra Battery Energy Storage System HeadlineNEW!!! DRAFT EIR PUBLIC COMMENT LETTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEWThe Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was available for public review and comment from March 11 through May 28, 2024.  This 79-day public review period exceeds the 45-day review period required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Each comment letter received during that time will be included in the Final EIR for the project, as well as responses to each comment.  As a result of these responses, there could be modifications to the Draft EIR.Although not required under CEQA, these comment letters are posted here on the City's website at this link in advance of the preparation of the Final EIR, in order to provide the public an opportunity to understand the nature of input received during the public review period for the Draft EIR. These comment letters are further being provided under the California Records Act in response to requests. The EIR consultant is currently preparing responses to the comments received, which, as noted above, will be included in the Final EIR..  The presentation used at the workshop is here Version Options Vistra Battery Energy Storage System HeadlineNEW!!! DRAFT EIR PUBLIC COMMENT LETTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEWThe Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was available for public review and comment from March 11 through May 28, 2024.  This 79-day public review period exceeds the 45-day review period required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Each comment letter received during that time will be included in the Final EIR for the project, as well as responses to each comment.  As a result of these responses, there could be modifications to the Draft EIR.Although not required under CEQA, these comment letters are posted here on the City's website at this link in advance of the preparation of the Final EIR, in order to provide the public an opportunity to understand the nature of input received during the public review period for the Draft EIR. These comment letters are further being provided under the California Records Act in response to requests. The EIR consultant is currently preparing responses to the comments received, which, as noted above, will be included in the Final EIR.. Thank you to all who came to the workshop!
 
EIR Scoping Meetings: Two scoping meetings were held for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on June 21, 2022 and June 29, 2022. The Powerpoint presentation for the two EIR Scoping meetings is available here Version Options Vistra Battery Energy Storage System HeadlineNEW!!! DRAFT EIR PUBLIC COMMENT LETTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR REVIEWThe Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project was available for public review and comment from March 11 through May 28, 2024.  This 79-day public review period exceeds the 45-day review period required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).  Each comment letter received during that time will be included in the Final EIR for the project, as well as responses to each comment.  As a result of these responses, there could be modifications to the Draft EIR.Although not required under CEQA, these comment letters are posted here on the City's website at this link in advance of the preparation of the Final EIR, in order to provide the public an opportunity to understand the nature of input received during the public review period for the Draft EIR. These comment letters are further being provided under the California Records Act in response to requests. The EIR consultant is currently preparing responses to the comments received, which, as noted above, will be included in the Final EIR.. The same presentation was given for both meetings. The purpose of the meetings was to allow for any interested persons to supply input on issues to be discussed in the EIR.
 
Notice of Preparation: The City has released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of a Project Environmental Impact Report. The NOP has been prepared to notify agencies and interested parties that the City as Lead Agency is preparing a Project EIR pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed 600-megawatt (MW) Morro Bay Battery Energy Storage System Project. The NOP also includes the Project Description and date of the Scoping Meeting.  

BESS Project Information: (Information presented on this page is part of the project application materials. The project is still under review and no action has been taken yet.)

• BESS Planning Application received 12-21-2020
• Application Overview Introduction
• Project Description (original)
• BESS Project Plans (original), received 2-17-2021
• City Council Presentation by Vistra, February 2021

BESS Technical Studies (received 2021):

• Traffic Report, Assoc. Transportation Engineers (ATE)
• Air Quality GHG Energy Report, EMC Planning Group
• Visual Simulations, original version 4/2021
• Traffic Route Exhibit, ATE
• Revised Biological Resources report, Padre, updated August 2021
• Biological Resources Assessment, Padre
• Morro Shoulderband Snail Report, Padre
• Geo Hazards Report, 
• Soil Management Plan, Terraphase Engineering
• DTSC Responsiveness Summary Areas of Concern Report
• Representative Safety Data Sheets
• Consistency Analysis
• Stormwater Management
• Acoustical Analysis, WJV Acoustics

Applicant Information: In an effort to provide more information regarding the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, Vistra has created a website for their project that includes project information and frequently asked questions (FAQs). You can visit their website at www.morrobayenergystorage.com. Note, this is not a City-maintained website. The information included is provided by Vistra.

Last updated: May 1, 2025