Marin Audubon Society questions location choice

As leaders in conserving and restoring the biological diversity of Marin's natural ecosystems for 67 years, the Marin Audubon Society has focused on preserving and enhancing tidal marshes, adjacent uplands, seasonal wetlands, as well as waterways, and we support strong environmental protections for these natural resources.

As president of the organization, I would like to share that Marin Audubon has acquired and restored to tidal marsh more than 500 acres in the Novato Creek-Petaluma River corridor. We look with alarm at the proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility, a project that would cause the permanent loss of 20 acres of diked baylands in this corridor (“Marin battery storage project sparks early opposition,” March 14).

The IJ's article on TerraGen's proposal to build this battery storage facility on Novato's historic tidal wetlands outlines a project that would have significant, irreversible adverse consequences to at-risk habitats and wildlife. As a historic tidal marsh, the property is in Marin County's bayfront conservation zone and within the baylands corridor. The project site currently serves as a floodplain.

Further, information from similar facilities raises concerns about fires and explosions occurring at lithium-ion battery storage sites. These disasters also would damage natural resources, and degrade air quality over a broad area that would adversely affect wildlife, including endangered species, as well as people.

While we fully support development of alternative energy sources, this is not the right place and it should be eliminated from consideration. Consistent with the need to enhance the overall ecology and resilience of the corridor and the bay, the property should instead be restored to tidal marsh. As tidal marsh, it would be valuable habitat for the area's endangered species (the salt-marsh harvest mouse and the California Ridgway's rail), support native plants, enhance diversity and improve flood control and shoreline stabilization functions.

— Barbara Salzman, Larkspur