All around us locally, state-wide and across the nation, a new phenomenon is taking place with communities approval and allowing the installation of industrial lithium ion battery storage units! Typically owned by a consortium of attorneys (not that there’s anything wrong with that), the goal is for them to purchase and store electricity in these units during the evening and night hours when the cost of electricity is cheaper and sell it back to the utility companies during the day at a higher price.
Pursuing a greener energy source is always admirable. However, at what cost is this a good idea? If a community has a Comprehensive Plan and they follow it, without adjusting their zoning to placate these attorneys and investors, it can be an invaluable tool to assist in controlling these burgeoning businesses and suburban sprawl. Yet, In a Town like Greenburgh, they politicized their Comprehensive plan into a feckless document acknowledging things like 500-year storms and climate change all while ignoring the wishes of the public: less impervious space, more green space, walkways and bike paths. Sadly, the residents lost out while the Comprehensive Planning committee patted themselves on their backs for a job, “well done,” that should have been referred to as “not done.”
Every proposal in Greenburgh is met with virtually the same information as if the cookie-cutter submission could pose no problem to our communities. By the time the Town Board meets with the attorneys in a Work Session, Mr Feiner has probably already met with them in his corner office and blessed the project, noting that there are no posed or potential dangers, the fire department is ready to extinguish any fire – should there be one, negligible water runoff, clean air and no toxicity for the residents. When these units fail, and they do fail, fire departments will require more resources as they will be committed to spend a minimum of 4-6 hours pouring copious gallons of water per minute to attempt to stop what’s known as Thermal Runoff (not fire).
When these battery backup systems fail, and they do fail, the results can be significant. One of the largest facilities is In Moss Landing, California. That battery plant failure burned in January requiring people to be evacuated and Highway 1 shutdown because of the toxic smoke generated. Firefighters were impotent to extinguish the fire and were forced to let it burn. An Arizona storage facility exploded and seriously injured firefighters. When multiple trailers burned, upstate residents were told to shelter in place.
Fortunately, numerous communities, such as Carmel and upstate’s Duanesburg, NY, have taken heed of the situation and have moved to prohibit larger battery storage systems in their communities. These communities are being practical in the face of recklessness: fighting a thermal runoff event (the actual name of a battery fire) is practically impossible to extinguish. Greenburgh should show the same initiative and predilection for safety for their respective fire service personnel and the public at large, but have chosen not to by approving any and all battery storage submission requests. So the result is that our communities are being bombarded with legal and illegal marijuana dispensaries, massage parlors, homelessness and now Energy Storage Systems!
These attorneys who are making submissions upon submissions are in high gear with no apparent slowing down. And left unchecked by the Town and its requisite Villages, residents are being forced to live and work in close proximity to these “farms”. Can you say Quality of Life? So what can we do?
First, we must implement a Moratorium on any new proposed battery storage units. Second, have multiple fire department veto power to sign off on site-specific planning for thermal runaway, plume modeling, water runoff and containment, ventilation and ultimately responsibility for cleanup. Third, the Town and Villages must develop complimentary zoning and legal requirements that curtail and more importantly protect our residents. Fourth, there should be an independent community group, such as the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations to be the liaison between the public and the government. Fifth, there should be a state partnership where they develop and maintain uniformity throughout the state. Sixth, create greater setbacks that cannot be appealed and changed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction because a variance was submitted.
Finally, we shouldn’t be putting these battery storage units near residential areas, schools, and /or hospitals. Our current crop of “elected” officials are failing us with inaction, ignorance and complacency. We need term limits to ensure our politicians have a finite period of time to act and then we get some fresh blood in its place. It’s the only way we’ll get A Better Greenburgh.
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