Pecho Files Certification Application for Energy Storage Facility in SLO Co

Pecho LD Energy Storage LLC, an affiliate of Hydrostor, recently filed its Application for Certification with the California Energy Commission for development of a 400 MW 3,200 MW-hour energy storage facility in San Luis Obispo County. The project will provide large-scale, long-duration energy storage for the region with no fossil fuel consumption and no greenhouse gas emissions.

With an operation date as early as 2026, Pecho will play a vital role in meeting the region’s future energy supply and reliability needs after the retirement of the 2,200 MW Diablo Canyon Power Plant in 2024-2025. Long-duration energy storage is one of the cornerstone solutions to a carbon-free renewable energy future. Pecho’s ability to deliver 400 megawatts of carbon-free electricity for eight hours will be comparable in size and resiliency to some of California’s largest fossil-fueled power plants.

Pecho’s ability to flexibly deliver 400 MW of stored energy every hour for eight hours without relying on fossil fuels or other polluting resources would make the project one of California’s largest single new energy storage facilities. This will surpass all existing battery energy storage projects in terms of both megawatts delivered and duration of generation, with an expected capital investment of approximately $800 million.

It is expected the project will provide between 200 to 450 skilled labor jobs (average to peak) during its four years of construction. Once operational, Pecho will create 30 to 40 full-time equivalent jobs and generate significant new property tax revenues for San Luis Obispo County. In fact, it is expected to generate more than $500 million in direct and indirect regional economic benefits during its lifespan.