Homefield residents in Yonkers continue to fight back against possible lithium-ion battery facility
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, Yonkers City Council president, says the city council is working to prevent this facility from being built.
More Stories
Neighbors in one Yonkers neighborhood are still concerned about a possible lithium-ion battery storage facility that would be built nearby.
"To have a lithium-ion battery station or an area that’s so close to the residential homes, that seems quite dangerous," says Ariana Aguilar, a Yonkers resident. "We have to respect the fact that people actually live here.”
Aguilar is one of dozens who feel this way.
The proposed facility would be built at 1100 Saw Mill River Road. For now, the plan is on hold due to a moratorium that was put in place last June. But it’s set to end in July.
City officials say the battery facility was proposed by Saw Mill River Energy Storage, which has the same address as New Leaf Energy.
"People are not happy about it. They’re really concerned about the property values, the safety," says Daniel Makowski, vice president of the Homefield Association.
Residents are worried about their quality of life, safety and health risks.
On Monday, residents expressed those concerns at the Homefield House.
"These lithium battery placement areas sometimes catch on fire. There’s all these toxins that are released when a plant burns," says Aguilar.
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, Yonkers City Council president, says the city council is working to prevent this facility from being built.
"Not only are we listening, but we’re taking action and we’re in this with you together," says Collins-Bellamy. "There was an RFP sent out to get a consultant to give us the study information that we think we already know about the hazards of having this facility so close to residential."
