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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee

Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in San Francisco, CA

If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the U.S. can be expensive and arduous.

This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.

So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in San Francisco, CA.

At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with U.S. trademark filing, U.S. trademark responses, and U.S. trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.

Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process

Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.

Using a trademark attorney for filing in San Francisco, CA, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The U.S. government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.

At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.

In terms of filing a U.S. trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:

1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.

2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the U.S. Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.

3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your U.S. trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.

The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Online Trademark Attorney San Francisco, CA
The bottom line?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.

Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in San Francisco, CA?

It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.

The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.

Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney

Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:

Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.

Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.

Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.

Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.

Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.

Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.

Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.

 Online Trademark Lawyer San Francisco, CA

Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.

What About Online Filing Services?

Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in San Francisco, CA.

 Trademark Attorney San Francisco, CA

Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.

In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.

For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.

Understanding Trademarks Over Time

Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in San Francisco, CA can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.

The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.

 Trademark Law Firm San Francisco, CA

Steps to Renew Your Trademark

Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.

During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.

After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.

It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.

By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in San Francisco, CA, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment

In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.

Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Inappropriate Licensing

In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.

How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark

If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.

To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.

It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.

Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.

 Trademark Lawyer San Francisco, CA
 Trademark Firm San Francisco, CA

What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?

At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.

It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.

When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.

Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.

In summary:

  • Be sure you're using a licensed trademark attorney helping clients in San Francisco, CA.
  • It's best to work with a trademark lawyer who has years of experience filing trademarks.
  • Ensure that your trademark lawyer is willing to provide ongoing notifications relating to your trademark application process.
 Trademark Registration Lawyer San Francisco, CA

Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You

Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.

With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.

If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.

Latest News in San Francisco, CA

Rain and snow may finally return to California. Here’s when

San Francisco’s rainless streak will hit two weeks Monday as a long stretch of dry weather plagues California this January. But there is some hope that by the weekend at least some parts of the state will pick up rain and snow.For the next five days, the weather pattern will remain unsupportive of any precipitation. Another round of Santa Ana winds will result in an “extreme episode of fi...

San Francisco’s rainless streak will hit two weeks Monday as a long stretch of dry weather plagues California this January. But there is some hope that by the weekend at least some parts of the state will pick up rain and snow.

For the next five days, the weather pattern will remain unsupportive of any precipitation. Another round of Santa Ana winds will result in an “extreme episode of fire weather” for coastal Southern California from Monday through Tuesday. Dry Diablo winds will also push into the Bay Area and clear out the fog, but fire weather concerns in Northern California remain low.

A high-pressure system will build across California from Wednesday through Friday, trapping the dry air mass underneath. Relative humidity will remain very low in coastal Southern California through Friday, with dangerous fire weather conditions.

Dry air and clear skies in wintertime are a recipe for chilly nights but warm, sunny days. Thursday’s high temperatures could push 70 degrees in San Jose and 80 degrees in Los Angeles, about 10 degrees above normal. Nights will be cool statewide, in the 30s and 40s in the valleys with well below-freezing temperatures in the mountains.

Precipitation may finally return to California this weekend when a cold low-pressure system approaches the region.

More Reading

‘Extreme episode of fire weather’ predicted for L.A. area with 100-mph gusts and ‘bone dry’ air

California weather remains dry due to ‘rex block’: Here’s what it means

It’s unlikely to be a big storm, but there is at least a decent chance of precipitation. Lake Tahoe could pick up its first dusting of snow in weeks, and Los Angeles and San Diego may receive their first significant rainfall since last April. Bay Area rainfall amounts look meager, at best, with less than a tenth of an inch expected.

Just how much rain and snow falls will depend on the system’s trajectory. If the system parallels the California coast on its way southward, it will pick up moisture and deposit rain and snow along the coast. But if the system remains over Nevada, precipitation amounts will be light and dry Santa Ana winds will be a bigger concern.

“We’re expecting a closed cut-off low, and those are notoriously hard to forecast,” said Robert Munroe, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard (Ventura County). Munroe said there is a 50% to 70% chance of precipitation from Saturday through Monday, with a slight chance of thunderstorms.

Regardless of exact precipitation totals, the snow line will probably be very low with this system. Snow could dust Bay Area peaks above 3,000 feet Saturday night, while elevations above 4,000 feet in Southern California may pick up a few inches of snow Sunday.

Despite the encouraging weekend forecast, the overall weather pattern remains unfavorable for soaking storms. Drier-than-normal conditions are predicted statewide through the end of January and into the first week of February. Drought will probably continue to expand across Central and Southern California in the meantime.

Monday breakdown

San Francisco: Lingering fog near the bay shoreline will quickly clear after sunrise as northeast winds push dry air toward the city. Northeast gusts of 25 to 35 mph are expected throughout the day, strongest atop hills. Highs will be close to 60 under clear skies. Overnight lows will fall to the low 40s, possibly dipping to the upper 30s near Cole Valley and Glen Park.

North Bay: A wind advisory is in effect for the North Bay interior mountains until 1 a.m. Tuesday for northerly gusts of 35 to 50 mph. Gusts could reach 30 mph in the valleys in the late morning to midafternoon. Highs will be in the low 60s, about 5 degrees above normal for January. Overnight lows will fall to the mid-30s, with areas of frost possible in the valleys.

East Bay: Blustery conditions are expected in the East Bay hills Monday morning, with gusts up to 40 mph possible. Winds won’t be as strong in the lower elevations, and conditions will be pleasant, with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s under clear skies. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid-30s in interior valleys, including Concord, Walnut Creek, San Ramon and Livermore. Temperatures will fall to the upper 30s in Berkeley, Oakland, Hayward and Fremont.

Pacific Coast and Peninsula: Dry winds will quickly scour out patchy morning fog, resulting in clear skies the remainder of the day. Northeast gusts of 25 to 35 mph are expected, strongest near Half Moon Bay. Highs will reach the upper 50s to low 60s, a few degrees above average for January. Overnight lows will drop to the upper 30s to mid-40s.

South Bay and Santa Cruz: The gloomy weekend fog may linger Monday morning, but drier winds will push in for a sunny afternoon. Gusts around 30 mph are expected in the hills. Highs will be in the upper 50s to low 60s in Santa Cruz County and low to mid-60s in the South Bay. Overnight temperatures will be very chilly, dropping to the mid-30s in the Santa Clara Valley and close to freezing in Gilroy and Morgan Hill.

Reach Anthony Edwards: [email protected]; Threads: @edwardsanthonyb; Bluesky: @edwardsanthonyb.bsky.social

Jan 20, 2025

Newsroom Meteorologist

Anthony Edwards is a newsroom meteorologist at The San Francisco Chronicle.

He joins the Chronicle from the University of Washington where he was previously the president of the campus weather forecasting team and an editor at the student newspaper, The Daily UW.

Edwards enjoys exploring San Francisco's parks, playing tennis, hiking, swimming and attending a ballgame when the Mariners visit the Giants and the Athletics.

Terreno Realty Corporation Sells Property in South San Francisco, CA for $8.0 Million

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO), an acquirer, owner and operator of industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets, sold an industrial property located in South San Francisco, California on January 16, 2025 for a sale price of approximately $8.0 million.The property consists of one industrial building containing approximately 22,000 square feet on 0.7 acres which is 100% leased to one tenant. The proper...

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terreno Realty Corporation (NYSE:TRNO), an acquirer, owner and operator of industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets, sold an industrial property located in South San Francisco, California on January 16, 2025 for a sale price of approximately $8.0 million.

The property consists of one industrial building containing approximately 22,000 square feet on 0.7 acres which is 100% leased to one tenant. The property was purchased by Terreno Realty Corporation on July 10, 2020 for $6.3 million. The unleveraged internal rate of return generated by the investment was 7.5%.

Terreno Realty Corporation acquires, owns and operates industrial real estate in six major coastal U.S. markets: New York City/Northern New Jersey; Los Angeles; Miami; San Francisco Bay Area; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

Additional information about Terreno Realty Corporation is available on the company’s web site at www.terreno.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. We caution investors that forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs and on assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. When used, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “project,” “result,” “should,” “will,” “seek,” “target,” “see,” “likely,” “position,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “potential,” “enthusiastic,” “future” and similar expressions which do not relate solely to historical matters are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance, which may be affected by known and unknown risks, trends, uncertainties, and factors that are beyond our control, including risks related to our ability to meet our estimated forecasts related to stabilized cap rates and those risk factors contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and our other public filings. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, or projected. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Accordingly, investors should use caution in relying on past forward-looking statements, which are based on results and trends at the time they are made, to anticipate future results or trends.

Contacts

Terreno Realty Corporation Jaime Cannon 415-655-4580

Frank Black - The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA) - January 15th, 2025

SUBSCRIBE NOWShop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDsFollow The Big TakeoverIn celebration of the release of his second solo record, Teenager of the Year, Frank Black and band graced the stage of the Fillmore in San Francisco on January 15th, to play live, the entire album, originally released in 1994. The show was a kickoff...

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In celebration of the release of his second solo record, Teenager of the Year, Frank Black and band graced the stage of the Fillmore in San Francisco on January 15th, to play live, the entire album, originally released in 1994. The show was a kickoff for a tour of the US and Canada before heading to Europe for select dates. For this short trek, the band includes Eric Drew Feldman (bass and keys), Lyle Workman (guitar), and Nick Vincent (drums), who all played on the original recording, which Feldman also co-produced. Rob Laufer is rounding out the live group on keys, bass and guitar.

Tonight the band opens with three songs from Black’s first solo record. The audience gobbles up “Los Angeles”, “Every Time I Go Around Here” and “I Heard Ramona Sing”, (described by Black as a love song to The Ramones) and it is the perfect appetizer before the main course of Teenager. Black briefly tells the story of the bar where he and his brother hung out as teenagers, playing the newly installed Pong video game and, like that, the band is off, with one of the mightiest one-two punches to start an album. “Whatever Happened to Pong” and “Thalassocracy” leap from the speakers tonight, and Black stands sure-footed behind the mic, ably keeping up with the pace of the rapid word flow, while Workman is already bouncing up and down and throwing shapes. It all bodes well for the evening.

“Abstract Plain” is introduced as a parenthetical number while “Calistan” is the first song of the night to show off Lyle Workman’s tight yet fluid playing. “Speedy Marie” is a victim of barely perceptible keyboards which is a shame, as the giddy, swooning, warm synthesizer tones are missed. “Headache” gets the audience’s fists pumping, singing at the top of their lungs about a science fiction story. “Sir Rockaby” is gently and lovingly handled, with Black even recreating the falsetto from the record. During this song, one gets the idea that the numbers tonight are being handled caringly and enthusiastically by the band, just not reverentially, as if your talented neighbors are plugging in the amps for a jam in the basement.

The belligerent, raw opening of “Freedom Rock” signals that the autumnal feelings are over, and, following that, The Three Stooges get a rowdy salute on “Two Reelers”. By the time “Ole Mulholland” starts, the band has shifted into fourth gear and are locked in with each other. The languid “Fazer Eyes” finishes strong with another standout solo from Workman and then Black introduces “I Could Stay Here Forever” by saying “we still have a shitload to go”. “Suprabound” again falls victim to the low volume of the keyboards, but otherwise it’s a winner with its propulsive twang intact. “Big Red” is next, and when Black sings “the weather is really getting warm/I don’t know how this all got started” it’s entirely too prophetic. In another eerily prescient coincidence, Black talks about how the album was recorded during the middle of the Southern California fires of 1994 (along with an earthquake). It brings a temporary chill to the proceedings until “White Noisemaker” blasts off and, along with Calistan, it’s another standout tonight. “Pure Denizen of the Citizen’s Band” is a gleeful treat (recorded originally with the help of a citizen’s band radio) and as the last few songs of the album go by, it’s easy to see that Lyle Workman has been the unsung hero of the night, playing everything from understated lyrical lines to punchy distorted chords.

For encores, the band rips into “Czar” and “Ten Percenter” from the debut solo record, with Black cutting loose on the vocals, rejoicing in the completion of playing an entire album all the way through. Tonight, there were some blown notes, missed cues, and, in the case of “Fiddle Riddle”, a false start, all of which is a world away from the efficiently produced and immaculately played record, but therein lies the charm of this opening night of the tour. Overall, the band seemed a little tenuous, but that’s understandable considering it’s their first night, and this lineup has not played live together for some years. Let’s hope a decade does not pass before they do it again.

Huge Northern California lithium battery storage fire called "Three Mile Island" event for the emerging industry

The massive fire at one of the world's largest lithium battery storage plants in Northern California has shaken a local community worried about possible long-term impacts and brought scrutiny to the emerging industry's safety practices.The fire at a power plant and battery facility operated by Vistra Energy in the Monterey Count...

The massive fire at one of the world's largest lithium battery storage plants in Northern California has shaken a local community worried about possible long-term impacts and brought scrutiny to the emerging industry's safety practices.

The fire at a power plant and battery facility operated by Vistra Energy in the Monterey County community of Moss Landing began Thursday afternoon, forcing evacuations and the closure of coastal Highway 1. A Monterey County official on Friday called it the largest fire ever of its kind.

The Moss Landing Power Plant, about 95 miles south of San Francisco, is owned and operated by Vistra subsidiary Dynegy and also houses two independent battery storage plants. The plant that is burning is owned by Vistra Energy while a second battery storage facility on the same site is owned by Pacific Gas and Electric, which said the incident was not a PG&E event.

There have been no injuries reported in the fire, which is being allowed to burn itself out as is standard procedure for such fires, according to the Monterey County Emergency Operations Center. However, the smoke from the fire has forced other residents not under evacuation orders to close their windows and remain indoors.

Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church called the incident a "Three-Mile Island event" for the industry, referencing the 1979 partial meltdown at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant, the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history. The battery energy storage systems industry, known by the acronym BESS, develops systems to store energy from electric, solar, electric, wind, and other energy systems.

Massive battery projects involving hundreds of megawatts are becoming more common in the U.S. and across the globe. California law requires investor-owned utilities to store energy and the state is expected to need 50 gigawatts of battery storage to meet its 2045 goal of getting all of its power from carbon-free sources from the current 7 gigawatts today, according to Reuters.

"I think that this is, uh, can best be described as a worst-case scenario of a disaster that's happened here. Nobody really predicted anything on this line," said Church. "This is really a lot more than just a fire, it's a wake-up call for this industry. And if we're going to be moving ahead with sustainable energy we need to have safe battery systems in place."

Church said he has fielded numerous questions from his constituents on why it happened, how it happened, and how to prevent a similar accident in the future. Church added it is the fourth fire at the site, a former Pacific Gas and Electric facility, since 2019 and said he and other county officials were previously assured it would not happen again. He called for increased safety protocols for the industry at federal, state, local, and private levels.

The inferno burning on the shore of Monterey Bay is also situated next to environmentally sensitive areas such as Elkhorn Slough, designated a "wetland slough of international importance." Church said while he understands the need for the battery industry, he said the transition to sustainable energy "cannot, will not come before the safety of families and environment."

"This never should have happened," said a visibly shaken Church. "And so, there is obviously some gaps going on here of information, there's some gaps going forth here on safety, there's gaps going here that are going to take some time to understand, but they gotta be - there's gotta be lessons that we learn from this."

Church said it was the largest fire ever of its kind and also called for an independent investigation into the incident.

"If renewable energy is going to be a future, it really needs to rest with safe energy," said Church. "And I'm not going to rest and leave this until I know we have a safe environment and a safe operation in the Moss Landing area."

Texas-based Vistra Energy senior director of community affairs Brad Watson also spoke at the press conference, saying the company considers itself part of the community and has taken the incident very seriously. Watson apologized to all those affected by the current situation.

"We are hurting today because we know primarily it's impacted and disrupted the people who live around our site, our neighbors, our friends, and businesses, and for that, we are sincerely sorry," said Watson.

Watson said it will listen to the community residents on how the company can consider ways to provide assistance. The company was contracting with an air quality monitoring company to keep residents informed of any possible health impacts from the fire's smoke and coordinate its findings with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The cause of the fire has not been determined as of Friday afternoon. It was still burning but at a small rate compared to Thursday night, North County Fire Protection District Chief Joel Mendoza said.

Carlos Castañeda

Carlos E. Castañeda is a senior editor of news and social media for CBS Bay Area.

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AGENCYDBI approves plans and issues permits for all construction in the City. We make sure buildings are safe and comply with building and housing codes.Building permit servicesWe issue permits to ensure that proposed construction meets all safety requirements.→...

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Permit Services at DBI

Inspection Services at DBI

Code Enforcement at DBI

Records Management at DBI

Partner agencies

Building Inspection Commission

Client Services Subcommittee

Litigation Committee

Nominations Subcommittee

Abatement Appeals Board

Code Advisory Committee

Access Appeals Commission

Director's Hearing

Board of Examiners

Public Advisory Forum

Structural Advisory Committee

Structural Subcommittee

Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Subcommittee

Green Building Subcommittee

Housing Code Subcommittee

Administrative & General Design and Disability Access Subcommittee

DBI Staff Directory

Contact information

Address

49 South Van NessSan Francisco, CA 94103

Get directions

Monday7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesday7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Thursday7:30 am to 5:00 pm

Friday7:30 am to 5:00 pm

We are closed on public holidays. We do not serve people or take payments after 4 pm.

Phone

DBI Customer Service628-652-3200

Email

DBI Customer Service

[email protected]

Permit Processing Support

[email protected]

Electronic Permit Processing Support

[email protected]

Media Enquiries

[email protected]

Social media

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Submit requests for the Department of Building Inspection.

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