The Redwood Valley Municipal Advisory Council Meeting on January 10, 2024, addressed local developments, including Form Energy’s iron-air battery project, crime statistics, concerns over a proposed gas station, and updates on various community matters.
Iron Air Battery Project
Form Energy‘s Reena Birch Fram returned to the RV MAC to provide more information about Form’s iron air battery project to be installed at the PG&E transformer station on East Road. These American-made batteries can discharge energy for 100 hours versus 4 to 5 hours for a lithium-ion battery. Form plans to charge the batteries with solar energy during the day when rates are lowest, then sell power into the energy market in the evening at higher rates. A lot of solar energy is simply wasted during the day because we lack battery storage capacity. This project will be permitted and monitored by the California Energy Commission. The reason Form chose this site is that it’s flat, it’s already an industrial site of a transformer station, and it’s easy to plug into the grid. This is just one of many projects that the government is supporting to try and convert to clean energy. The batteries will be installed on the 4-acre site in 128 shipping containers.
Some of the Board and audience questions for Fram were:
- Do the batteries form any toxic byproducts?
- A small bit of hydrogen is produced, with a very small risk because the company has done extensive testing. Form is working with Underwriters Laboratories on safety compliance.
- Will this lower our PG&E bills?
- It shouldn’t affect our current bills but hopefully in the future, it may lower our bills.
- What are the benefits to Redwood Valley?
- One of the goals is to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and that will benefit everybody.
- Will this project be noisy?
- The storage containers for the batteries will have fans, which create some noise. Form will install sound walls. Prior to installation, engineers will record the ambient noise on the site over a period of time to obtain a baseline noise level. When the project is installed, the noise level will be compared to the baseline, and mitigations will be made if necessary.
- Will there be light pollution?
- No, the lighting is from the existing PG&E substation.
- Can homeowners install iron-air batteries?
- Not at the present time. This is designed for grid scale. They are researching future use for homes. The current purpose is to increase efficiency of storing solar and wind energy in California, which currently uses natural gas to power the grid at night.
Board Member Kahli Johnson, an electrical engineer, had technical questions about battery efficiencies and the lifetime of the batteries. The lifetime of the units is a minimum of five years. Fram said that if there are problems, the CEC is not going to allow Form to continue to operate. PG&E will make sure they are completely decommissioned if the project ends after five years, with all equipment moved off the Redwood Valley site.
Supervisor Glenn McGourty Addresses the MAC
Supervisor Glenn McGourty spoke about the County’s announcement that it was moving the Veterans Services Office to a new building. In an effort to cut costs, the County decided to move departments around to consolidate space. The deal was done without any input from the veterans who use the services, and some of them showed up at the last BOS meeting to express their frustration and disappointment. The current building is a former residential house that provides a comforting place for vets. The planners didn’t communicate very well before they planned the move. The Veteran’s Services Office is a federally funded link to the DC Office of Veterans Affairs, administered by the County Behavioral Health Department. McGourty and Supervisor John Haschak will meet with Dr. Jenine Miller about the new space and what the veterans need. The new office will have a better waiting room and reception area. MAC Vice Chair Jini Reynolds said she talked to some vets, who say they would like a public apology and recognition of their service, and that should come from County Social Services and should be announced on local radio and local news media. First District Supervisor candidate Carrie Shattuck commented that it would have helped if it was discussed by the Supervisors at the Board Meeting. McGourty said the BOS cannot take action on public expression items, they can only comment on agenda items during the meeting. Shattuck wanted to know why it wasn’t on the agenda.
McGourty said that the county auditors have closed the books on the 2021–2022 fiscal year. There are multiple state audits still in progress. The consultants hired by the County to clean up the financial software are finally getting the new software working, after “cleaning up old messes.” This should result in more prompt financial reporting. The auditor, treasurer, tax collector unit has improved operations.
McGourty reported that the union negotiations with both county employees and county law enforcement are finalized. The rates have been set until 2026. The County is moving toward market-based salaries and hoping to match other counties to prevent loss of employees to those counties. McGourty did not mention the still ongoing negotiations with the In-Home Supportive Services employee union.
There are open positions for both County Counsel and Public Defender. A search is underway, but it will be several months until the new hires are in place. In the meantime, interim personnel will fill those positions.
McGourty and MAC Board Member Adam Gaska both serve on the Board of the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin Sustainability Agency. The UVBGSA is performing a rate study. (There was a public meeting on January 11 in Redwood Valley about the rate study, reported in a separate article). The area covered is from the top of Tomki Road in Redwood Valley, south to almost Hopland and ridgetop to ridgetop east to west. The State Department of Water Resources requires communities with groundwater basins that are deemed either moderate or under threat to form a groundwater sustainability agency and to submit a sustainability plan. This is because of many dry wells and land subsidence in the Central Valley. The land in this area hasn’t subsided, and the goal here is to preserve our groundwater and not deplete it. Our groundwater sustainability plan was approved, but the state requires more information, and the annual monitoring and reporting by hydrologists, geologists, etc., and an office to administrate it all, costs money. Our local board wants to do the bare minimum, because the taxpayers here can’t really afford to do any more than that. An audience member asked if we are going to have to pay more for water. Yes, we are, but the amount is unknown. The reporting requirements will not apply to domestic wells, only for agriculture and commercial, but most likely it will lead to a property tax fee being added to landowners in the UVBGSA district.
The uncertain fate of the Potter Valley Project and the Eel River diversion tunnel complicates the issue because nobody knows how the reduced amount of diversion water will affect the existing groundwater. The wells in our basin are mostly shallow and are recharged by winter rain and by the Eel River water released into the Russian River. A JPA called the New Eel Russian Facility (NERF) has been formed to negotiate with PG&E and FERC. NERF’s first meeting will be at the end of January. Funds must be raised for this JPA separate from the UVBSGA. In January 2025, PG&E must submit its final proposal to decommission Scott and Van Arsdale Dams. McGourty estimates that it will probably be 10 years until the dams come down, and we won’t be able to use the “abandoned” water from PG&E that we have been using in the past. “The only wildcard for all this is climate change,” said McGourty. He concluded with “This is bigger than us, there will be multiple changes. We are in an era of great uncertainty, let’s not let exterior factors turn us against each other. We are all neighbors, and we have to work together.” Sheriff Matt Kendall, who was next to speak, concurred with McGourty on this sentiment.
Sheriff Matt Kendall on 2023 Crime Statistics
Kendall spoke about the 2023 statistics listed in his report that was posted on the Mendocino Sheriff Facebook page. There are some areas he wanted to elaborate on. Theft and property crimes greatly increased, but Mendocino County is still lower than the national average. In 2023 his coroner’s department handled 370 cases, down from close to 500 during the worst two years of Covid. Because doctors and hospitals were overwhelmed with Covid cases, people with medical conditions often didn’t seek care. It was difficult to get a doctor’s appointment and the hospitals were filled with Covid victims. Some of the deaths during the worst of the pandemic were caused not by Covid, but by people not getting care for other chronic illnesses. Now that they are able to go back to the doctor, the death rate has dropped.
There were 69 accidental deaths in 2023 in Mendocino County. 48 of these were overdoses, almost 70% of the accidental deaths. The year before, there were 89 accidental deaths and 49 were overdoses. Kendall said, “We aren’t getting our arms around this problem. If we didn’t have Narcan, I can’t imagine what the OD death rate would be.” In 2023 there were six homicides, three of which were over cannabis.
The county jail inmate population is down. Currently, there are about 318 inmates. Sometimes the count goes down to 240 or less. The lower inmate population gives the jail employees more ability to provide educational and job programs for the inmates. Said Kendall, “Everybody in jail wants something to do.” The garden produced $20,000 worth of food, offsetting the jail food costs. It makes the jail easier to run when inmates are occupied with a task.
Because of realignment, with state prisons sending inmates to county jails, the county jails are getting a more sophisticated group of inmates who need more supervision. Some of them will be in county jail for 8 to 10 years, when ordinarily a county jail inmate would only be in for less than a year.
Undersheriff Darren Brewster wants to retire, and Kendall said he is sorry to lose him. Elk resident John Magnan applied to join the Sheriff’s office. Magnan has many years of experience with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, where he was Undersheriff, and is also an Air Force Veteran. The Undersheriff is responsible for the budget, and Magnan already has experience handling a budget. Magnan will be starting on January 22. Undersheriff is an appointed position, not elected. Kendall said, “Magnan is 59 years old, but he still has a lot of fuel in the tank, and it’s rare to have such an experienced person apply for this job.”
The Sheriff’s Office is preparing for winter emergencies. Last year’s extreme winter caused many trees to fall. It is hoped that most of the badly damaged trees came down last year and we should not have as many this year. February to April are Mendocino County’s biggest snow and freezing months.
Alternate Member Marybeth Kelly wanted to know about the fireworks, gunshots and explosions on New Year’s Eve. As an army veteran, she can tell that these explosions are not mere firecrackers. It seemed worse than last year. The loud explosions on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July are harmful to domestic animals and wildlife. Animal Control had 40 calls on January 1, and there were dead dogs visible on the side of 101 in Ukiah. Kendall said it was bad all over the county and there are not enough staff to enforce the law against fireworks when there are so many incidents. Because of the wet weather, with no likelihood of starting a wildfire, perhaps people felt free to escalate. CalFire has more teeth in this situation than the Sheriff because of laws against fireworks, but there are not enough enforcement personnel. Kendall suggested community peer pressure and education.
Proposed Gas Station
Faizan Corporation’s permit application to install a 10-pump gas station at the North State Street freeway intersection was denied at the December 7, 2023, and January 4, 2024, Planning Commission meetings. Faizan will appeal this to the BOS. The MAC had urged the Planning Commission to deny Faizan’s permit application. MAC Member Chris Boyd said that District Attorneys from seven California counties have filed multiple charges against Faizan. The State Water Resources Control Board fined Faizan corporation $500,000 for gas leaking into water systems. According to Boyd, The Grassroots Institute discovered that Faizan has not complied with all previous requirements to mitigate. MAC Member Adam Gaska pointed out that the BOS cannot deny the permit application on the grounds that we don’t need more gas stations, as there is no ordinance in Mendocino County prohibiting new gas stations. The BOS needs a valid reason to deny, other than the fact that we don’t want a new gas station. The nuisance of creating more traffic jams in an already jammed intersection is a valid reason, as well as the fact that the current freeway exit would need to be redesigned.
Redwood Valley School Campus, Community Action Plan, The Grange, and Other News
The sale of the Redwood Valley School campus is on the agenda for the January 18 Ukiah Unified School District Board meeting. Sealed bids must be received by 4:30 pm on January 18, and will be opened during the Board Meeting that evening. Board Chair Dolly Riley said that she attended a Community Block Grant meeting, where she asked the committee to consider a grant to purchase the campus for community use. Riley also suggested that the committee consider improving landscaping in Redwood Valley, installing solar power at the Grange, and funding to build water storage infrastructure for the Redwood Valley County Water District. Reynolds added that Redwood Valley wasn’t on the Block Grant Committee’s list of potential projects.
Riley reported that the Community Action Plan is on the February BOS agenda for approval, but likely will be delayed yet again. Julia Krog, Director of Planning and Building is going to ask the BOS to move the agenda item to July, after the fiscal year end. The Planning Department is currently working on revising inland zoning codes. They want to finalize the inland zoning before the Supervisors review the CAP.
The Grange will have a Musical Gear Swap on January 27 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Grange commercial kitchen is partially installed, with a new range hood. The commercial kitchen will be coming soon.
In cannabis news, the Mecca Dispensary has closed for business.
After discussion among the board, they voted to keep the present officers for 2024. Patricia Ris Yarbrough, Treasurer, Jini Reynolds, Vice Chair, Dolly Riley, Chair. There is a vacant position for secretary. There is an opening on the MAC Board. Deborah Hughes applied, but she did not attend the MAC meeting, nor any past meetings that the Board can recall. The Board would prefer an applicant who has attended meetings in the past and is familiar with the MAC, and Ms. Hughes is invited to attend the February meeting.
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve, Redwood Valley, photo by Monica Huettl
I may have to wait until I tentatively retire next year. Unfortunately I remembered about 930pm about the meeting. Unexpected issues came up to deal with. Will try for Feb.
I don’t know the Vets that the MAC Vice Chair spoke to, but is sounds a bit made up. I don’t know any Vets who want a public apology and recognition of their service, It’s just not who we are. I think most of us just want the VSO moved back to the house and to be left alone. I don’t care how they modify the “new” space to be better, it will always smell like an old hospital. Unless you are a Veteran or married to one, you will never understand.
Your comment is on point. I have never met a fellow Veteran that wanted public recognition of their service.
Appreciate this write. I was there in person. Re: Iron Air Battery … Might be good to have battery tech pre- review article for accuracy. Specifics … (from last article) KWh is the unit of Battery Power depth (Watts x hours) vs just kW KilloWatts (mentioned in previous article. Also: any type of battery including Lithium Ion Batteries will last as long as Iron Air batteries if the have the same KWh rating.
I Like this Project, and look forward to it being successful. KWh of power supplied by any type of battery equates to less fuel propane, diesel, coal) burned in a fuel power generator (when the Grid needs more Watts of electricity); and thus less pollution. I have only Best Wishes for this forward thinking Project in our Redwood Valley Community. ?
Proposed Gas Station: Quite a few vocal people complain about road quality in Redwood and Potter valley. Extensive potholes, washed out culverts, and etc. Gas Taxes (and gas stations) help fund road maintenance, repair, and repaving. I think there are two gas stations in the Redwood valley area for nearly 2K people plus much more in travelers passing through. Mendo AQMD, assuming they are doing their job, should be visiting these gas station regularly for inspections. Perhaps this is a opportune time to expand revenue for a county struggling to maintain roads. Not to mention if more people establish this area as a home as a growing community.
We’re still waiting for pg and e to pay us for the fire….
If those things blow up or everyone nearby gets cancer don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Having fewer gas stations means higher prices during normal conditions, lower quality roads, and more chances if one station goes down in a fire or disaster they’ll be that many fewer points of access for vehicles /supplies in and out of the valley. Plus this is near the 101 and N State St junction where there is less vegetation and ideal access to the highway. You might as well yell at a brick wall ? if you expect PG&E to pay you.
I’m talking about the experimental battery boxes not the gas station.
All you said was fire…..but okay ?
Redwood valley fire cause was determined by charged power lines and unkept vegetation control. I was noting that a community that complains often about county road quality to the BOS and at the same time blocks a road revenue source from coming into the community seems backward.
I have never once seen PG&E bills go lower… always higher.. paying for their mistakes while the Executives make even more money after bankruptcy.
PGandE have been making record profits for many years. Until the Governor and the state legislature reign in PGandE, they will continue to make profits on the backs of the working citizens.