By Holly Crocco
While residents of Mahopac and Carmel, as well as Somers, continue to express their concerns over the development of a lithium battery farm on the county line, State Sen. Pete Harckham is joining the fight, calling for a “robust public engagement process” in a letter sent to the Carmel Planning Board.
In his letter, Harckham notes that his office has fielded numerous calls and emails from constituents about the proposed “Union Energy Center,” a grid-scale energy storage system project proposed on a 93.5-acre parcel of land off Miller and Union Valley roads in Mahopac, adjacent to the border of the Town of Somers.
“In light of the breadth of the questions raised,” Harckham requests the planning board “to initiate a robust public engagement process that will allow all material issues to be fully discussed.”
The proposed Union Energy Center in Mahopac, which is being developed by East Point Energy of Charlottesville, Va., includes a 116-megawatt battery energy storage system, two substations and two enclosure pads.
According to East Point Energy, the project is meant to reduce some of the strain on the regional electric grid, which would be helpful during blackouts, and also alleviate some costs to both the electric utility and consumers. The system would be connected directly to the electricity grid in Mahopac, where it is under operation of New York State Electric & Gas.
“In land use matters, process is everything,” said Harckham. “These are important local decisions, and there needs to be opportunities for stakeholders to be heard and issues thoroughly vetted.”
In recent weeks, Carmel Town Board meetings have been filled with residents voicing their concerns over the project, which is currently before the planning board and not yet under the purview of the town board.
During the May 1 Carmel Town Board meeting, Colleen Coxen of Pearce Place asked the town to consider a moratorium on lithium battery farms, so more research can be done regarding safety, as well as impacts to health and the environment.
“After multiple fires caused by lithium battery farms, our governor put together an interagency fire safety group, which is still in its draft stages,” she said. “This group could outline changes and requirements for such applications in front of our planning board.”
Annette Romito of Lakeview Court said a lithium battery farm does not belong in a residential area.
“We don’t need medical advice; we know it’s deadly,” she said. “As our board, you should be protecting the residents and the families that live here. I think it’s a disgrace this is being entertained, by corporate America, in a residential area.”
Yael Esteves of Center Road said there are many more residents who are concerned about the proposal – members of the Spanish community – who don’t know how or when to make their voices heard.
“The problem is, when you send information, when you send the flyers, the information is in English,” she said. “They don’t know about it… They buy houses here. They make their lives here, too.”
There are also many residents of Somers who are worried about the impacts the farm will have on their neighboring town. However, they have not been allowed to comment on the matter at Carmel town meetings.
“Somers residents feel this facility poses severe and dangerous risks to the surrounding area, and to the beloved communities of both Somers and Mahopac,” said Lauren Rosolen, also of Center Road. “Currently, this proposal is being portrayed as if the site is in the middle of a large, 94-acre parcel – out of sight, out of mind. This could not be further from the truth.”
She said the lithium batteries will be housed 200 feet from a major residential community in Somers and half a mile from local shopping centers, senior and daycare centers, and other businesses.
“This is no place for a lithium battery facility,” said Rosolen. “Placing a massive, 116-megawatt facility like this in all of our backyards is something dangerous and irresponsible. It is only a matter of time before this facility catches fire, and we will all suffer the consequences. Please remember that smoke does not discriminate, and just because you live miles away from this facility does not mean you will not suffer the effects of a fire of this magnitude.”
Somers residents have been told they will be able to address the matter at an upcoming public hearing before the Carmel Planning Board.
In addition, East Point Energy held a public question-and-answer session May 2 to address resident concerns.
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