One year ago today, the Moss 300 lithium battery storage facility in Moss Landing erupted in massive toxic flames. Dedicating this program to those who have come together to seek the truth about what happened and why.

Hour One: Nina Audino describes questions re: environmental analysis and regulatory holes in the Santa Cruz County Draft Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) rules Supervisors approved 1/13/2026, relying heavily on information conjured by 90 Minto Road developer. No large-scale fire testing, no plume modelling,no seismic regulation. No public comment???

Donate to legal fund necessary to protect agricultural land and challenge siting 90 Minto Road project next to densely-populated working-class neighborhoods: https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/

Hour Two: Scott Smith, Blue Shirt Justice League and Government Accountability Project leader, discusses the EPA cover-ups and lack of accountability to people harmed by major environmental disasters, such as East Palestine, Ohio, Roseland, Louisiana, and Moss Landing, California. Joined by ASPECT whistleblower Dr. Robert Kroutil, discovery that EPA reported only a narrow and incomplete subset of chemicals detected in Roseland disaster between August 22–27, due to fundamental failures in data analysis and interpretation. These failures mark a pattern of ASPECT's negligent use after similar evidence in East Palestine which showed ASPECT being turned off over key waterways and only recording eight minutes of data.

https://whistleblower.org/press/epa-aspect-flyover-data-confirms-chemicals-found-by-independent-tester-after-smittys-supply-explosion/

https://goblueshirtjustice.org/

First Hour: Gary Patton discusses the 1978 Voter Referedum Measure J's importance in continuing to preserve agricultural lands, require 15% affordable housing in new subdivision projects, define the urban services line and require an annual County Growth Goal that reflects the County's fair share of the State's growth. It can only be changed by the vote of the people...so how can the County Draft BESS Ordinance remove acres of farmland for utility grid battery energy storage use????

Second Hour: Three Guests who are local activists speak out about public safety problems with the County BESS Ordinance:

Carol Bjorn:The importance of preserving agricultural land and demanding full EIR. Opt out of Central Coast Energy (3CE) because they support siting lithium BESS in our neighborhoods. https://3cenergy.org/billing/energy-choices/opt-out/

('Ban Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County' meets 1st & 3rd Mondays at Porter Library, Soquel, at 6:30pm)

Phillip Carranco: Local activist and internationally -known regulatory policy expert: The County used very little of his professionally-developed BESS Ordinance gifted to them, such as seismic safety requirements and enforcement with large fines.

Karell Reader, local farmer and activist with 'Stop Lithium BESS in Santa Cruz County' shares concerns that Planning Dept. is too vague on environmental review of the BESS Ordinance and the 90 Minto Road BESS Project in Watsonville...the two are mingled and confusing and the public may not have opportunities to weigh in with concerns

SUPPORT THE ATTORNEY THIS GROUP HAS HIRED TO SAVE THE AG LANDS IN OUR COUNTY:

https://www.stoplithiumbessinsantacruz.org/

learn more about the County BESS Ordinance and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON JANUARY 13 AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING IN SCOTTS VALLEY (WHY AREN'T THEY DISCUSSING THIS IN WATSONVILLE, WHERE THEIR ACTIONS WILL HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS THERE!)

https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/UPC/GetInvolved/MajorProjectApplications/BatteryEnergyStorageSystemsOrdinance.aspx

1) Interview with Ms. Sarah Beck, Executive Director of Friends of Santa Cruz Public Libraries as a participant in the Santa Cruz Gives campaign:

 https://www.friendsofsantacruzlibraries.org/