New regulations for battery energy storage systems in Vacaville.

ORDINANCE NO. 2015 ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VACAVILLE CITY COUNCIL AMENDING TITLE 14 OF THE CITY OF VACAVILLE MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 14.09.271 ENTITLED BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS, TO CREATE NEW POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND STANDARDS FOR REGULATING BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS IN THE CITY OF VACAVILLE The proposed ordinance would amend the City's Zoning Ordinance under Division 14.09 of the Land Use and Development Code (Title 14) to create policies, procedures, and standards for regulating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within the City of Vacaville. A BESS is an electrochemical device, with a rated capacity of equal to or greater than 1,000-kilowatt hours (1 megawatt hour), that charges or collects energy from the grid or a generation facility, stores that energy, and then discharges that energy at a later time to provide electricity or other grid services when needed. The proposed amendments will include definitions, land use and siting standards with restrictions, and will prohibit all "Lithium-Ion" battery chemistries within city limits. The foregoing ordinance was adopted and passed for second reading at the regular meeting of the Vacaville City Council on March 24, 2026, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Stockton, Ritchie, Chapman, Fremouw, Vice Mayor Silva, and Mayor Carli NOES: None ABSENT: None /s/Michelle Thornbrugh, City Clerk