'Why even risk it?' Proposed battery storage facility in New Milford raises concerns from community
A proposal to build a 10-acre storage facility for lithium-ion batteries in a wooded area near Aspetuck Ridge Road and Wells Road is raising concerns from the New Milford community.
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A proposal to build a 10-acre storage facility for lithium-ion batteries in a wooded area near Aspetuck Ridge Road and Wells Road is raising concerns from the New Milford community.
Flatiron Energy, which is proposing the facility, says because of the intersection of power lines in New Milford, if built, it would help lower the energy costs for around 145,000 homes in the area.
"(It works by) shaving the energy, and saving it when the grid does not require that energy, and then putting it back into that grid when it requires it, so that the price of electricity remains stable, and we're not overly dependent on very volatile gas prices," explained Scott Schwartz, the chief development officer for Flatiron.
But New Milford Mayor Pete Bass says the town needs to learn more, saying from that side of things, the are still in the fact-finding stage.
"We want to make sure anything that comes in here is safe, healthy, and is not going to effect our environment," said Bass.
Nearly 1,000 people have signed an online petition against building the facility in the residential neighborhood, which was organized by the New Milford Clean Water Coalition.
"These energy storage facilities do catch fire, releases tremendous toxins into the air, tremendous heavy metals, tremendous gasses," said Ashley Russo, a public liaison for the CWC.
But Schwartz says the technology has come a long way in just the last few years, telling News 12 that a storage facility build in 2026 is different from one than might have been built even in 2018.
"We're using iron phosphate batteries, so the chemistry is significantly more stable than what was installed in the past." Schwartz said.
Still, with the site near the Aspetuck River, in a flood zone, and with an aquifer protection area inside it, residents argue it remains too dangerous.
"You're threatening our drinking water, you're threatening the air, you're threatening all the aspects of air that are fundamental for a healthy human existence," said Russo. "Why even risk it?"
Schwartz says that Flatiron looked into those concerns, and announced to News 12 that that they have changed the plans to shift the project over a few hundred feet, which will fully move it off of the aquifer protection area.
"We've undertaken material diligence that confirms that there will be no impact to the aquifer protection area," Schwartz said.
Despite the news, Russo was not convinced, arguing that "everything is interconnected, so no, moving it down the road is not going to do much."
Schwartz says Flatiron has offered to pay to have a third party assess the plans and independently confirm the safety.
They are also hosting a pair of open houses in January, and will be making a presentation and taking questions at the town council meeting on Jan. 26.
