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

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

Published

3 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight

On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.

The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.

The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.

“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.

“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”

The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.

The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

15 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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