To the Editor:
Re “Hundreds protest proposed Mahopac battery farm,” June 21. I often wonder about which fears motivate people. Those who showed up to protest the battery storage facility are primarily fearful of new technology. I am more fearful of climate change, which humans are causing and which will slowly make our planet virtually uninhabitable unless we adopt new technologies. Battery storage, paired with wind and solar power generation, is a key technology we need to keep climate Armageddon at bay.
But to address the fears of those clamoring for a moratorium:
First, are battery energy storage systems safe? Yes, they are, despite the anecdotes of protesters or attention-grabbing headlines. Battery storage systems must adhere to strict federal, state, and local safety requirements for power plants. They use the same technology found in many widely used consumer products, tools and electric vehicles. To further increase safety, each system is equipped with automatic fire suppression equipment and its own air conditioning or cooling system to ensure it operates within the ideal temperature range. Fires involving battery storage can occur, but only in extreme conditions. Developers work with local fire departments and emergency responders to ensure they have adequate training and equipment to respond to any safety issues that may arise.
Second, are battery farms being used elsewhere successfully and safely? Yes, all over the U.S. As of 2022, 39 states had utility-scale battery farms, or battery energy storage systems, with California and Texas in the lead in terms of capacity. Countries around the world, from the U.K. to Germany to India, have installed battery farms, with China in the lead.
Are there risks involved? Yes, but they are manageable. There are risks we assume with all energy technologies. Gasoline-powered cars can explode in a collision, yet we still drive them. Nuclear power plants have melted down or released lethal radioactivity, but we still rely on them. Gas-burning power plants rain down pollutants and toxins on nearby neighborhoods and drive global warming, but we still fire them up. For now.
Clearly it behooves the Mahopac battery farm developer to do more outreach within the community. Gov. Hochul must also ensure that the state government plays a role in educating the public about this important technology. We cannot let fears of the new, or NIMBY obstruction, hamstring our fight against the climate crisis.
