The Village of Warwick has condemned a lithium-ion battery storage facility on Church Street following a fire last month, a move that is intensifying debate over whether these facilities belong in local communities at all.

Village officials say the site, operated by Convergent Energy and Power, does not have a valid certificate of compliance and should not have been operating. The Village Building Department has issued a notice of violation and condemnation order, citing the company’s failure to meet enhanced safety monitoring requirements.

The fire broke out on Dec. 19 and is the third battery-related incident connected to facilities in Warwick in just two years, including separate incidents at a second Convergent site on school district property in 2023. County officials have said air-quality monitoring during those incidents detected low levels of toxic chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide during the most recent fire, though readings were described as within federal safety limits.

For environmental advocates, condemnation is long overdue.

“They should have been shut down two years ago,” said Pramilla Malik, chair of Protect Orange County. “I don’t think these facilities belong in any community whatsoever.”

Malik disputes claims that battery storage is a clean or low-risk solution. “It’s not green. It’s highly toxic,” she said, arguing that short-term air monitoring does not capture the full impact of a battery fire. “There is a host of other chemicals that they should be testing for. They should’ve taken air samples and sent them to a lab, and at this point I think follow-up water and soil testing might be required.”

She also questioned whether the benefits justify the risks. “Why should we have to bear those risks in the first place?” Malik said. “It produces very little power, and it’s not worth the risk and the cost.”

Malik said the Warwick fire should serve as a warning beyond the village. “These facilities are being proposed all over Orange County,” she said. “Every town and every village should oppose the siting of these facilities.”

Residents and workers in the area expressed mixed views — acknowledging the role battery storage can play, while questioning safety and placement.

“We all love the batteries because they serve well, but they are so dangerous," said Sandra Lannon, who has worked nearby for three years.

Lannon also raised concerns about disposal.

“How do you dispose of that properly?” Lannon added, “Maybe it should be moved somewhere out of reach.”

Lifelong Warwick resident Danielle Henderson said she supports alternative energy but believes repeated fires raise red flags.

“It’s a great idea. I’m all for green and alternative energy,” she said. “But if it’s on fire, that seems antithetical to what it’s supposed to be doing for us.” Henderson added, “How many times does something need to catch on fire before we realize that maybe there are some issues here — that this isn’t the right location?”

Village officials say the battery system has been disconnected from the power grid and will remain offline while cleanup and an investigation continue. The village is also requiring the company to pay for all cleanup, testing, engineering and police costs, has requested additional soil and water testing, and is retaining an independent consulting engineer.

Convergent Energy and Power declined further comment, saying it will address the matter directly with the Village of Warwick.