Overview
- The non-monetary agreement requires Gateway Energy Storage to implement extensive safety measures, conduct environmental monitoring and submit detailed work plans and progress reports to the EPA.
- Cleanup operations at the 250-megawatt Otay Mesa facility are ongoing under the supervision of the EPA, San Diego Fire-Rescue and San Diego County officials, with removal of impacted battery packs targeted by late August.
- The EPA will continue overseeing an active investigation into the root cause of the May 15, 2024, lithium-ion blaze that smoldered until May 28 without causing injuries.
- REV Renewables, which owns Gateway Energy Storage, completed thorough battery testing earlier this year and has returned a subset of units to service while remediation proceeds.
- The settlement follows similar incidents in California and underscores growing regulatory scrutiny as the state expands utility-scale energy storage to meet its carbon-free electricity goals.