On January 20, 2026, the Vacaville Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider the draft BESS Ordinance, including revisions to prohibit "Lithium-Ion" battery chemistries within city limits. All members of the public are invited to attend and provide public comments on the draft ordinance and attend the meeting. The Planning Commission meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers located at 650 Merchant Street, and the meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.

View the meeting video below or on YouTube.

On December 9, 2025, the Vacaville City Council held a study session on the draft ordinance, received public comments, and provided feedback to staff. During the public comment period, many commenters expressed concern about the dangers of thermal runaway from lithium-ion battery chemistry, the potential for toxic gas and fumes to affect nearby sensitive uses, insufficient buffers from residential uses, and the potential regional effects from a thermal runaway event.

View, download and print the staff report.

View the presentation slides.

View the meeting video below or on YouTube.

On November 18, 2025, the Vacaville Planning Commission held a study session on the draft ordinance, received public comments, and provided feedback to staff. More information is available below.

View, download and print the staff report.

View the meeting video below or on YouTube.

The City of Vacaville is hosting a Community Meeting on October 22, 2025, at 6:00 pm in the Ulatis Community Center located at 1000 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95688. City staff will facilitate the meeting and present an overview of BESS facilities, provide background on the moratorium, and discuss the process for drafting a new ordinance.  Staff will also provide information on how community members can stay informed and participate in the City’s decision-making process for the draft ordinance. 

View, download and print the press release.

View the presentation slides.

View the meeting video below or on YouTube.

On March 12, 2024, the Vacaville City Council held a study session to discuss a potential moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities, the City’s history with BESS facilities, local and state policies regarding alternative energy, and the Council’s options for next steps.

The Council determined that the potential for development of BESS facilities in Vacaville without adequate land use policies and standards in place presents a current and immediate threat to the public’s safety and welfare, and that the approval of additional entitlements for BESS facilities would result in that threat to public safety and welfare.

Following discussion, the City Council voted 6-1 to direct staff to prepare an interim ordinance as an urgency measure to address growing concerns with BESS facilities while the City studies the safety and feasibility of such a use within City limits. On May 14, 2024, the City Council unanimously adopted an interim urgency ordinance prohibiting BESS facilities within Vacaville City limits.  The City Council adopted an extension of the interim ordinance during the June 24, 2024 meeting extending the interim ordinance to 22 months and 15 days, to May 14, 2026 (a total of two years from the May 14, 2024 urgency adoption).  Watch the presentation online.

On June 30, 2022, the California State Legislature approved Assembly Bill No. 205, which broadened the California Energy Commission's (CEC) authority to oversee the permitting of clean and renewable energy facilities, including energy storage systems. Known as the Opt-In Certification Program, the CEC permitting process allows developers to submit project applications for new BESS facilities, regardless of any prohibitions or moratoriums imposed by local jurisdictions. The Opt-In program requires the CEC to:

• Complete in 270 days an environmental impact report (EIR) under CEQA.
• Certify compliance with requirements for community benefits agreement, project labor agreements, and economic benefits.
• Ensure consistency with all laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards (LORS) under the Warren-Alquist Act.

ENRA Extension with Menard Battery Storage, LLC was Denied

During a special meeting of the Vacaville City Council, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, the City Council denied Menard Battery Storage, LLC an extension of their Exclusive Negotiations Rights Agreement (ENRA).

Background

On January 10, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement that allowed Menard Energy to evaluate the construction of a battery storage facility at the former Gibson Canyon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in north Vacaville. The agreement did not approve a battery storage facility or obligate the City to an approval. Rather, the agreement allowed Menard Energy to conduct due diligence about the property and explore, with the City of Vacaville, the potential to purchase the property and develop it with a battery storage facility. Due diligence included Menard’s analysis of the financial feasibility of a battery storage facility, site investigation to examine the site’s physical characteristics, and review of other potential site development issues. 

Related documents:

• Prior ENRA Agreement, expired January 11, 2024
• ENRA Extension Request Letter
• Menard BESS Project Website
• City Council Report, January 10, 2023

Location

The site is located on the east side of Leisure Town Road, north of Mills Road. Primary access to the site is provided via a private driveway accessed from Leisure Town Road.

Overview

Under a 12-month exclusive negotiating rights agreement with the City of Vacaville, Menard Energy Storage, LLC (Menard Energy) evaluated the feasibility of building a BESS facility at the former Gibson Canyon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in north Vacaville. At the time in 2023, more than 500 utility-grade BESS facilities were operating throughout California and the United States. These facilities consist of banks of batteries that are housed in fireproof metal containers. These batteries harvest energy from natural sources (sun, wind) and sell it when there is demand. Menard Energy did not file a formal application, and the land sale and project were not approved by the City of Vacaville.

On September 7, 2023, the City of Vacaville hosted a community meeting at the Vacaville campus of Solano College to provide additional information about the background of the preliminary agreement, information about Menard Energy’s proposed battery storage project, and an opportunity for the community to ask questions. Property owners within 1000 feet of the proposed project were notified by mail and interested residents who subscribe to the City’s email list were notified about the meeting via email. Attendees identified many questions about the proposal. Following the meeting, City staff worked with project proponents to develop a set of answers to questions asked during the meeting and online: View Menard Battery Storage, LLC questions and answers.

The meeting was also live streamed and a recording can be accessed on YouTube. 

Presentations

City of Vacaville Presentation [English] [Spanish]
Menard Energy Presentation [English] [Spanish]

The former Gibson Canyon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (Gibson Plant) was operated by the City to serve two users: Albertson’s Distribution Center and Mariani Packing Company. Gibson Plant operations resulted in groundwater contamination from unlined ponds, and a groundwater remediation system was constructed in 2005/2006. Wastewater flows to the Gibson Plant ceased in December 2006 as ordered by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The final closure of the Gibson Plant was completed and approved by the Regional Water Quality Control Board on January 20, 2009.

Under the Surplus Land Act, Government Code Section 54200- 54232, surplus property is defined as "land owned by any agency of the state, or any local agency, that is determined to be no longer necessary for the agency's use, except property being held by the agency for the purpose of exchange." On February 25, 2020, the City Council approved Resolution 2020-030,  which authorized the City Manager to initiate the marketing of the subject property through the Surplus Land Act (SLA) process.

As part of the process, the City notified the State of California Housing and Community Development (HCD) that the property had been designated surplus local land. All local public entities, special districts, and HCD’s list of developers were also notified. The City received no letters of interest for the property. Shortly thereafter, the City received formal approval from HCD that the City could sell the property to an end-user of its choosing.

February 25, 2020, City Council Meeting Report

In August 2020, City staff received a formal proposal from Menard Energy to develop a utility scale battery storage facility on the subject property. In November 2020, the City Council directed staff not to proceed with an agreement to allow Menard to explore the proposed battery storage facility project on the subject property. Council further directed staff to advise Menard Energy to explore alternative sites that were located in industrial areas.