SLO County’s first battery plant is now operating. Here’s where to learn more
San Luis Obispo County’s first battery energy storage facility is up and running in Nipomo — and community members can attend an open house this week to learn more about the plant.
The Caballero Energy Storage project can store 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 100,000 homes for up to four hours per day, a project spokesperson told The Tribune.
The facility started operating at full capacity on April 1, the spokesperson said.
The project developer, Alpha Omega Power, will host an open house on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Nipomo Library.
Community members can stop by to ask questions or make comments at any point during the two-hour event.
The library is located at 918 West Tefft St.
What do we know about the battery project?
The facility stores lithium iron phosphate battery cells in 33 separate containers, according to a project spokesperson.
“The enclosures are designed, rated and tested for outdoor use and have specific spacing requirements that are being strictly followed,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
First proposed by PG&E then passed to Origis Energy, the project was purchased by Fengate Asset Management and Alpha Omega Power in November 2024.
The facility includes automatic shutdown systems that will turn off the batteries to prevent a fire from sparking or spreading. The developer also made an emergency response plan as required by SB 38.
The 6-acre project sits on a 20-acre property at 650 Joshua St., which is about 1,000 feet west of Highway 101.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 9:12 AM.
