Rep. Jimmy Panetta introduces bipartisan bill to bolster battery storage safety
WATSONVILLE - Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Santa Cruz, has authored and introduced a bill with bipartisan support that seeks to allocate federal resources behind greater battery energy storage safety protocols.
According to a release shared Friday by Panetta's office, the legislation, co-led by Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-North Carolina, seeks to bolster general safety for the green energy technology by, in part, directing the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct robust energy storage safety research, development and demonstration activities within its energy storage programs.
In addition to existing federal work that studies battery system failures and its causes, Panetta's bill would target early detection methods and preventative techniques to reduce risks of fires or explosions, such as what occurred at Moss Landing in January 2025.
"As we continue to move towards renewable energy, we must ensure that the corresponding and critical technology is safe and secure," Panetta said in the release. "Although state-level public utility commissions have the authority and are responsible for ensuring safe and reliable energy service, my bipartisan bill would allow the federal government to make necessary improvements for the research, development, and testing of critical battery storage and clean energy systems. As we strive to reduce our carbon output with clean energy facilities, including battery storage, I believe the federal government has a role to play to ensure the safety and protection of our environment and communities."
Other provisions of the proposed federal legislation include authorizing $30 million per year for energy storage safety activities in fiscal years 2027 through 2031, and improved coordination between the Department of Energy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Fire Administration to develop better testing and validation standards for grid-connected energy storage systems and their associated safety equipment. The bill would also amend federal program direction and strategic planning to incorporate energy storage safety, and seeks to expand energy storage demonstration programs to include two additional demonstrations that would enhance the safety of both short- and long-duration energy storage systems.
"Energy storage is a critical piece of America's energy future, and we have to make sure we are building it on a foundation that is safe and reliable. These systems are going into homes, onto the grid, and into communities across the country, and right now our testing and safety standards have not kept pace with how fast the technology is moving," said Harrigan. "This bill closes that gap, puts the right agencies to work on the hard problems, and makes sure we are stress-testing these systems before failures happen in the field, not after."
According to the release, Panetta and Harrigan's proposal is supported by American Clean Power Association and the U.S. Energy Storage Coalition. It has also been endorsed by California State Sen. John Laird, who authored Senate Bill 283, which seeks to increase battery storage project safety through increased collaboration with fire officials during the development process. The bill was signed into law last year.
"The Moss Landing fire underscored the urgent need to strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage systems nationwide," remarked Laird. "California has taken important steps at the state level, but federal partnership is essential to advancing research, improving coordination with fire officials, and developing stronger testing and safety standards. I appreciate Congressman Panetta's leadership in moving this conversation forward and helping ensure the clean energy transition continues in a way that is both ambitious and safe."
The bill may draw inspiration from the fire in Moss Landing, but it also emerges as Santa Cruz County residents and political leaders continue to grapple with how to regulate new developments. A 160-unit, 16-acre battery energy storage project from developer New Leaf Energy was proposed in 2024 on Minto Road in unincorporated territory near Watsonville.
The project has elicited intense local scrutiny, especially after the Moss Landing incident. Some residents have raised safety concerns at several community meetings and public forums, while the project's developer has attempted to alleviate those concerns by pointing out key differences between the proposed project and the Moss Landing site, such as newer battery chemistries and updated storage standards.
In January, the county Board of Supervisors approved a draft ordinance that would establish local rules for these battery projects, but its process took too long and New Leaf Energy announced in early May that it would seek project permits from the California Energy Commission instead.
"Grateful to Congressman Panetta for his leadership on strengthening safety standards for battery storage systems. Since the fires at Moss Landing, I've been clear: our communities deserve transparency, accountability, and strong protections," said Assemblymember Dawn Addis. "The Better Energy Storage and Safety (BESS) Act is an important step to ensure the federal government fully understands the impacts of energy storage in communities like ours so an incident like Moss Landing never happens again."
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 5:12 PM.