Tag Archive for: Battery storage

Carver: May 10, 2023: State EFSB votes unanimously to reject petitions of two proposed battery storage facilities

May 10, 2023

State website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/cranberry-p

The EFSB unanimously voted that the agency does not have jurisdiction over energy storage facilities that are 100 megawatts or more because they do not “generate” energy but store it. This is a victory for proper energy facility siting and local communities faced with an onslaught of projects called “green” and renewable but that have big impacts not properly considered under current regulatory programs. The EFSB ruled that the law that gives it the power to approve energy generating projects is outdated and does not cover the types of large private battery storage facilities being proposed for the small towns of Carver and Medway, Massachusetts. The fight over Cranberry Point in Carver is not over as of November, 2023.

The Southeastern Massachusetts group Save the Pine Barrens opposed the 150 megawatt project proposed for Carver saying the EFSB did not have jurisdiction and the project was not properly designed to address the dangers and risks of the lithium ion battery facility in the dense residential neighborhood where it is proposed. The EFSB did not decide on whether the project is dangerous or not, but agreed it does not have legal jurisdiction to consider the applications.

The EFSB’s decision states the “Siting Board dismisses the Petition to Construct for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.” See the tentative Decision adopted below. The website is here:

In 2023, the state Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) exempted Cranberry Point from Carver’s Zoning Bylaw. This does not exempt Cranberry Point from the General Bylaws. Find out more about the campaign to amend the Carver General Bylaw to protect residents and the environment from dangerous battery storage projects.

The Carver Planning Board extended Cranberry Point’s site plan review and special permit in 2023.

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STPB and local residents challenged the project at the EFSB starting in early 2021 sending petitions, participating in hearings and submitting expert testimony. The EFSB did not decide on the merits of the project, only decided it cannot legally even consider it. The EFSB also plans to rule it has no jurisdiction over the 250 megawatt Medway (MA) Grid BESS project.

EFSB decision is a significant setback for Cranberry Point and a win for the people of the area who came together to protect our drinking water and neighborhoods!

This Decision does not stop the project entirely. The project has to pass through the Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”). Cranberry Point asked the DPU to exempt it from all zoning. On July 11, 2022, the Carver Selectboard wrote a letter to the DPU asking them not to exempt Cranberry Point from zoning. On July 13, 2022, the Planning Board also wrote a letter.

At the April 2023 Town Meeting, voters overwhelmingly passed a zoning change that prohibits large battery projects in residential neighborhoods. This is an impediment for Cranberry Point and another setback.

On May 9, 2023 the Carver Planning Board voted to extend Cranberry Point’s special permit under the zoning law for one year. On April 25, 2023 the Board voted to grant a minor modification to the site plan. These decisions can be appealed.

All information is on EFSB website

EFSB Docket for case with the both side’s filings.

Notice-of-Board-Meeting-MG-CP.ENG_Download

Some important events:

August 25, 2022: Nearly 1,500 letters sent to the Carver Select Board, Planning Board, Town Manager and Town Administrator from concerned citizens urging them to not allow Cranberry Point to be exempt from Carver’s zoning laws.

July 26, 2022: Over 360 letters letters sent to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) by concerned citizens urging the Board to not allow Cranberry Point to be exempt from Carver’s zoning laws.

May 6, 2022: Save the Pine Barrens wins the right full participation in the hearing. EFSB Hearing Officer’s Decision is here.

April 2022: Carver Town Meeting passes a moratorium on battery storage that would ban Cranberry Point. The moratorium took effect immediately. In November 2022, the Attorney General disapproved the moratorium. The reason was that the Town had not submitted enough information on safety, risk to human health, water and the community to support a moratorium. The Attorney General did not say the moratorium itself was unlawful. The moratorium was in effect from April to November 2022.

November 8, 2021 video of the EFSB hearing on the Cranberry Point

Below: Attorney General Letter on Battery Moratorium

2022.11.14_AG-Decision-carver10526a-dis-art-26-and-38Download

Carver: Cranberry Point Battery Storage Facility

Expert testimony on Battery Energy Storage Systems available here

John Hinckley, air expert, says Cranberry Point has not disclosed the air toxics that will be released during a thermal runaway or where they will go. Get his 9/2022 testimony here.

Milosh Puchovsky, fire expert from Worcester Polytechnical Institute says Carver Fire Department is not prepared for the dangers of Cranberry Point and thermal runaway. Get his 9/2022 testimony here

Proposed for Carver’s densest residential area, within a mile of elementary school, affordable housing, town center

State energy facilities siting board (EFSB) must approve project, hearings ended 10/31; EFSB meeting to vote planned for June 2023. More here.

Cranberry Point seeks total zoning exemption from state. read more on our website here.

Fire Chief Craig Weston, father Gary, leasing land for battery bomb. Westons also responsible for destructive earth removal and mining operation under the ruse of cranberry agriculture: read more on our website here.

Former Town Administrator Milanowski helped dupe Carver voters in 2018 by pushing for zoning change to allow Cranberry Point

Oct. 18, 2022: State environmental review office (MEPA) rubber stamps environmental impact report. read more on our website here.

Carver votes 384 to 72 for a moratorium on battery storage despite Cranberry Point opposition: read more here.

Cranberry Point told Carver Planning Board the coolant in the system is “not toxic at all”…This is a stationary system. Any risk would be a fire and this liquid would disappear with a fire.” Minutes here.

Borrego Solar-New Leaf proposing similar mega-battery storage project in Wendell, MA Environmental Justice community

Cranberry Point is located in the heart of Carver, MA over the sole source drinking water, feet from residences and close to the Carver Elementary School

Get involved! Contact Carver Concerned Citizens

carverconcernedcitizens@gmail.com and on Facebook

Carver: Cranberry Point Battery Storage: MEPA state environmental review

MEPA RUBBER STAMPS Cranberry Point environmental report. See the Certificate here.

CLWC MEPA comments here and exhibits here

Carver Concerned Citizens MEPA comments here

Cranberry Point requires Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review: read more here

MEPA is not a permit, but a study of alternatives that requires a developer to minimize and mitigate environmental damage from their project

Here is the state’s MEPA site for Cranberry Point

Read about the MEPA law here.

Community Land & Water Coalition and Carver Concerned Citizens October 13, 2022 press release on Cranberry Point:

Press-Release_-Groups-and-individuals-demand-that-the-Baker-Administration-reject-a-proposed-battery-facility-in-a-residential-neighborhood-in-CarverDownload

There are steps in the process:

An “Environmental Notification Form” (ENF)

Then a “Draft Environmental Impact Report” the public gets to comment on, and a “Supplemental Environmental Impact Report” (SEIR). The SEIR for Cranberry Point is here.

Finally, a “Final Environmental Impact Report” (FEIR) that is usually just a rubber stamp.

Weston-Carver-Battery-MEPA-150-MWDownload
August-13-2021-MEPA-ApplicationDownload

Oct-1-2021-MEPA-Certificate-16430-Cranberry-PointDownload

Carver: Cranberry Point: Siting Board Proceedings

Archive of events:

EFSB hearings concluded on 10/31/22

EFSB decision, June 2023

Docket for this case is here: Case 21-02

Carver Concerned Citizens

is fighting back!

Get in touch with CCC to help! carverconcernedcitizens@gmail.com and on Facebook



Residential area in Carver, MA is ground zero for the 150 MW Cranberry Point battery storage project

Residential area in Carver, MA is ground zero for the 150 MW Cranberry Point battery storage project    At our April 11, 2022 Town meeting, Carver voted by 387 to 87 saying YES to an 11 ½ month zoning moratorium to pause this project. This dealt a blow to Cranberry Point and its supporters and sent a loud message to Town officials. Now Cranberry Point is trying desperately to get around the wishes of Carver voters and the zoning moratorium. Cranberry Point has petitioned state agencies to EXEMPT IT FROM ALL CARVER’S ZONING BY-LAWS!


WHAT DOES THIS MEAN  
Cranberry Point is asking for for permission to poison our water with a dangerously unstable lithium-ion storage facility. Cranberry Point has repeatedly, told the state Siting Board that the battery site is a “rural” location and will have no impact on our sole source aquifer and our unique landscape.

DANGERS
• Lithium-ion batteries’ general composition includes toxic elements such as cobalt and under fire conditions toxic gas can be generated like hydrogen fluoride gas, which when mixed with water creates hydrofluoric acid, which is a respiratory irritant.

• Mitigation measures can reduce risk, but not eliminate a failure occurrence, which is not only possible, but probable.  This facility will be placed adjacent to the EverSource sub-station, if it does have a failure occurrence of a thermal runaway, it is likely that the sub-station will be damaged, impacting a large section of Eversource’s service area.

• Thermal runaway is a primary risk of lithium-ion batteries.  This happens when the lithium ion cell enters an uncontrollable, self-heating state.  Thermal runaway can result in:  Ejection of gas, shrapnel and/or particulates (violent cell venting), extremely high temperatures, smoke and fire.

• The water used to cool a thermal runaway event, will immediately become contaminated because of the toxic gas and particles from the storage facility, that contaminated water will find its way into private wells and our sole-source aquifer.

DID YOU KNOW?  
• The Energy Facilities Siting Board website states “To obtain EFSB approval, a proposed facility must demonstrate that it would provide a reliable energy supply, with a minimum impact on the environment, at the lowest possible cost.”

• That you will not benefit, in any way, from this battery storage facility.

 • Two Select Board members were instrumental in approving the site plan during their tenure on the Planning Board: Jennifer Bogart and Jim Hoffman.

  • Select Board member Sarah Hewins, our former conservation agent, at Town Meeting stated she was “offended” by resident’s efforts to pass a moratorium on battery storage facilities in our town.

• At the April 12, 2022 Annual Town Meeting, the moratorium was passed by an overwhelming 387-78 vote. 

 • Cranberry Point is not fully permitted, which is in direct conflict to the statements made by our Select Board and Planning Director, Tom Bott.

• Battery storage for energy is a recent initiative in Massachusetts, which became incentivized under the SMART Program in late 2018. Because of the SMART Program, solar companies and battery storage companies are using the Town of Carver as their testing grounds without any regard for its residents or the impact of their products on our lives or the environment and our water.

• All large-scale ground mounted solar installations must now have a “Battery Storage Energy System” (BESS) on-site. Carver already has at least 4 large solar installations with battery storage of the 19 large scale ground mounted solar installations in town.

• BESS have been halted through-out the country because of the instability and danger to surrounding communities. 

• Our youngest and most vulnerable residents attend Carver’s Elementary School only .6 miles from the proposed Cranberry Point site.

• Our neighbors’ homes directly abut and are only 400 feet from the site!

• 974 homes are within 1 mile of the battery project and of that number 61 are mobile homes.

• 500 homes are within 800 feet of the battery project.

• Carver’s Lakenham Historic District is .5 miles away.

• Meadowbrook/Carver Housing Authority, our low-income housing complex and town center is within 1 mile away from the battery project.


Lithium-ion battery storage project similar to the proposed Cranberry Point project

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?     
      
• Remind the Select Board that we elected them as town leaders based upon the promises they made to protect our communities and towns. They should not allow predatory corporations like Cranberry Point from Texas put us in danger, contaminate our water, lower our property values and endanger the natural beauty of this town.
     
• Let our Select Board know that if they don’t start protecting our residents, our natural resources and our water that we will not vote for them again.
     
• Let’s stand united as a community against the continual takeover and destruction of our community. If we remain divided our water becomes poisoned and our neighborhoods become unlivable, all in the name of “green energy”.

Some important events:

August 25, 2022: Nearly 1,500 letters sent to the Carver Select Board, Planning Board, Town Manager and Town Administrator from concerned citizens urging them to not allow Cranberry Point to be exempt from Carver’s zoning laws.

Read Cranberry Point’s petition for a zoning exemption here.

July 26, 2022: Over 360 letters letters sent to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) by concerned citizens urging the Board to not allow Cranberry Point to be exempt from Carver’s zoning laws.

May 6, 2022: VICTORY! We won the right full participation in the hearing. There is a lot more work ahead to get our concerns put before the Hearing Officer at the EFSB. Cranberry Point fought our participation so this is a victory.

The EFSB Hearing Officer’s Decision is here.

Here is the November 8, 2021 video of the EFSB hearing on the Cranberry Point

Here is some information on the dangers of battery storage.

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exhibit-b-big-batteries-could-be-bigger-bombs-than-beirut-fertilizerDownload

exhibit-a-tesla-fireDownload

Get involved!

Contact Carver Concerned Citizens carverconcernedcitizens@gmail.com and on Facebook

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)

Read testimony to the Energy Facility Siting Board on battery storage risks.

Promoted as “green energy” and part of the “transition to a clean energy economy” Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) pose risks when sited in the wrong place. Much is unknown about the risks and how to respond when something goes wrong. In Massachusetts, the Cranberry Point 150 megawatt battery storage system will primarily store fossil fuel electricity. The battery project is for grid reliability and private profits — not to help the climate crisis.

This page has resources about BESS. These systems can be a large stand alone facility with 50 or more batteries clustered together or a few batteries placed among ground mounted solar arrays. They can be used with roof top solar. When BESS industrial projects are sited, municipalities are left on their own to determine suitable locations, to assess the risks, and to ensure that emergency responders are prepared.

Thermal runaway is a major safety concern with battery storage facilities and can happen when high temperatures are reached within the battery due to faulty cells or damage leading to fires or explosions. These fires are extremely difficult to contain and will continue even when water is used on them.

Large amounts of contaminated water from extinguishment efforts for battery fires will often leach into surrounding waterways, soils, and ecosystems.

Kelly Gallagher, a Massachusetts resident, shares information on the dangers of solar battery systems based on her own experiences.

The use of these systems has been incentivized throughout the state without properly notifying municipalities to allow them to have a say on battery storage projects.

Approximately 66% of the rare earth mineral cobalt used for these batteries is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo where workers toil under unsafe conditions.

Most Massachusetts municipalities have not amended their bylaws to allow battery storage systems, nor have they determined requirements for safe placement and use.

Read comments from a Norton MA resident, Joe Cogliano, who has studied the issue.

Norton-MA-Cogliano-comments-to-efsb-nov-29-2021Download

Community Land and Water Coalition

P.O. Box 1699, Plymouth, MA 02362
Email
Phone: 508-259-9154

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You can sign our Sand Mining Petition to Governor Healy and town Selectboards here

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