San Diego, CA

Poway City Council gives final approval to build battery storage facility

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2024

Poway City Council gives final approval to build battery storage facility

In the wake of two serious battery storage fires — one in Otay Mesa and another in Escondido — the Poway City Council on Tuesday night gave the green light to building another such facility in its community.

By a unanimous vote, the city council approved the second reading of Ordinance 8-71. It changes the land use designation at Kirkham Way near Beeler Canyon Road. The change makes way for the battery storage facility known as “Nighthawk” to be built there.

Residents living near the business park, where the Nighthawk battery storage facility is slated to be built, walked away from the nearly packed house at Tuesday’s regular city council meeting feeling disappointed and uncertain about their futures and safety of their families.

It was an emotional 90 minutes as homeowner after homeowner was applauded for sharing their grave concerns about the facility.

“It’s just a bad situation to put a fire hazard in a high fire zone. I can’t wrap my head around that,“ Scripps Ranch resident Karen Kuhn said.

Kuhn is among the nearly four thousand residents of Scripps Ranch neighborhood of Stone Bridge. She says Nighthawk is expected to be built some 2,500 feet from her house.

“It was disappointing. It was 5-0. We’ve been coming to these meetings for over two years. They keep telling us it’s going to be safe,” Kuhn said.

The unanimous vote came after the city council heard from the public, Poway’s fire chief and Arevon, the company that will build the storage facility.

Company representatives wanted to assure people who were at the meeting. They told the gallery that the technology has improved and is much safer.

In a statement emailed to NBC 7 on Tuesday, spokesperson Blair Motocha wrote: “The project has incorporated supplementary safety measures, including a concrete perimeter wall; dedicated fuel management zones, with built-in irrigation and maintenance and an infrared thermal detection monitoring system.”

“The technology may be improved, but if you have a fire, any ember that flies away from the building pad will catch the neighboring valley on fire,“ Stone Bridge resident Jim Irish said.

Recent battery storage facility fires have left homeowners in the area on edge. Last May, the one in Otay Mesa took 17 days to extinguish. The SDG&E battery storage fire on Enterprise Street in Escondido evacuated hundreds of people, closed schools and strained fire and rescue resources for days.

County leaders will decide whether to pause the construction of storage sites for lithium-ion batteries. NBC 7’s Shandel Menezes reports.

“There is certainly going to be toxic fumes, and in a wildfire situation, these flames are like 100 feet tall,“ Kuhn said.

Poway Fire Chief Jeff Chumbley says a battery storage facility would pose no greater risk than other facilities in the business park.

Poway Mayor Steve Vaus wrapped up his comments by saying no matter how they vote, it will be the state that will challenge it.

“It doesn’t matter how they vote, Sacramento will force it down our throats,” Irish said.

Other questions remain, including whether residents are at greater risk of losing their homeowner’s insurance. People living in Stone Bridge say there is just one road in and out of their development, which could make evacuating the area more difficult.

The city of Poway will receive financial benefits through the project: $10 million in guaranteed tax benefits and $2 million set aside for a community fund.

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San Diego, CA

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

Published

8 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here are the 9 San Diego County communities that set or tied heat records

San Diego County is known for having wet, cold weather in February. But it had numerous hot spells this year. And when the month ended on Saturday a high pressure system produced heat that broke or tied temperature records in nine communities from the desert to the sea, the National Weather Service said.

The most notable temperature occurred in Borrego Springs, which reached 99, five degrees higher than the previous record for Feb. 28, set in 1986. The 99 reading is also the highest temperature ever recorded in Borrego in February.

Escondido reached 95, tying a record set in 1901.

El Cajon reached 92, three degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Ramona topped out at 88, five degrees higher than the record set in 2009.

Alpine hit 88, four degrees higher the record set in 1986.

Campo reached 87, four degrees higher than the record set in 1999.

Vista hit 86, four degrees higher than the record set in 2020.

Chula Vista reached 84, one degree higher than the record set in 2020.

Lake Cuyamaca rose to 76, four degrees higher than the record set in 1986.

Forecasters say the weather is not likely to broadly produce new highs on Sunday. Cooler air is moving to the coast, and on Monday, San Diego’s high will only reach 67, a degree above normal.

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San Diego, CA

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

Published

20 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run. Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”

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