CARMEL – Stephanie Azadian is part of a contingent in her Somers neighborhood against a proposed 116-megawatt battery storage site that would be located on the Westchester-Putnam County line that she said would be approximately 200 feet from her backyard.
The East Point Energy project still has to be approved by the Town of Carmel Planning Board and is subject to, among other scrutiny, compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). However, Azadian, and many other residents want the project deep-sixed before it goes any further.
“The location is unacceptable, point blank, end of story,” Azadian said. “It is not a matter if it goes on fire, but when it goes on fire. And then what? It is not safe for my children, or this community and we don’t want it here.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer this week voiced his concerns about the East Point Energy project.
“I have been in touch with Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne regarding the proposed battery storage facility in Carmel, particularly its proximity to Somers,” Latimer said. “I have genuine concerns about this project and will be closely following its development. It’s crucial to me that any potential risks to our communities are thoroughly addressed. We trust that the Town will address this matter in its land use deliberations, and we eagerly anticipate participating in the process by providing further comments as it progresses.”
The proposed project on a 95-acre undeveloped tract of land along Miller Road has renewed the debate about the safety of battery storage site facilities. Town of Carmel Supervisor Michael Cazzari told Mid-Hudson News that he is reserving any comment until the project goes in front of the Planning Board and it makes a determination on its future.
“The project is out of place and these snake oil salesmen from Virginia are passing around a false narrative about it,” added Somers resident Roland Ciofrone. East Point Energy is based out of Charlottesville, Virginia. “It’s dangerous and it is not safe, we have young children living here,” Ciofrone added. “I don’t know who would want to live next to it.”
Storing energy in batteries is key to making renewable energy more reliable as New York State pursues a variety of climate goals. However, after battery storage fires in Suffolk, Orange and Jefferson counties last year, state and local officials have scrutinized the safety of battery storage sites. Governor Kathy Hochul has formed an Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group, which concluded there were not harmful levels of toxins in soil, water or air were reported after the fires.
“Safety is East Point Energy’s top priority – safety of our projects, safety of our people, and safety of the communities in which our projects are located,” said Tyler Cline, Vice President of Project Development at East Point Energy. “The preventative and reactive safety measures of energy storage projects are multifaceted and redundant in design. These measures include adherence to robust national building and electrical codes and standards, pre-installation testing, 24/7 remote monitoring by trained personnel, temperature management, safety equipment, component certification, emergency response plans and regular training with first responders.”
The Governor’s Working Group will continue to analyze environmental and safety impacts for battery energy storage sites and make recommendations for the safety of operating sites. The Orange County battery fire occurred last June and was attributed to a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) malfunction on the property behind a Warwick Valley Central School District bus garage. Convergent Energy, who operates the energy storage site, attributed the fire to water seepage into battery containers, resulting in an electrical shortage. During the fire, residents reported odors that smelled like burning glue.
A grid-scale battery project is an energy storage system connected directly to an electric utility, in the Town of Carmel’s case, NYSEG. The project would enable the utility to store electricity during off-peak hours and discharge the stored power during peak demand hours. The goal is to make the grid cleaner, more reliable, resilient, and affordable.
East Point Energy is holding a virtual community webinar on May 2 to answer community questions.
“As a Carmel/Mahopac resident myself, I too have an interest in ensuring the numerous concerns from our neighbors are addressed in an open, fair, and transparent process,” Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne said. “Planning Board meetings, like numerous other county, town, and village entities, must comply with the State’s Open Meetings Law. Residents must and should be given the opportunity to share their concerns and seek answers from all parties involved. Due to my own interest in the project, as a town resident, I plan to follow this town process closely and suggest all residents interested do the same.”
