Highland Falls residents meet with battery storage site developers to discuss new project
The renewable energy company is looking to build a lithium-ion battery storage facility in a Highland Falls neighborhood.
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Dozens of Highland Falls residents gathered inside the village's senior center on Thursday night.
The public meeting began with a presentation from the developers, New Leaf Energy, where they discuss the project.
The renewable energy company is looking to build a lithium-ion battery storage facility in a Highland Falls neighborhood.
New Leaf Energy's preliminary plan is to develop a five-megawatt battery storage site to supplement the local power supply and help meet the state's clean energy goals. The goal is to include making renewable electricity 70% of the power grid by 2030 and a zero-emission electric grid by 2040.
Dozens of residents, many from the Sattelee Road neighborhood where the site would be located, showed up to ask their questions. Many wondering why this was the location selected.
Residents also mentioned that recent fires at a battery storage in Warwick have shaped their views on the facilities. A facility next to Warwick Valley High School caught fire for the second time last month, emitting low levels of toxic chemicals into the air.
"What happens if that happens here and, you know, the location of where Warwick was in a much different than the location it would be here. Do I have to evacuate homes? Where do those people go?" said Highland Falls Mayor Jim DiSalvo.
The mayor says now it's up to the company on how they will further proceed. One challenge is that New Leaf would have to petition for a zoning variance to allow this project in a residential community.
