An energy company is seeking the Town Board’s approval to build a new 5 MW/20 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in the Calverton Enterprise Park.
Sundial Energy LLC, based in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, is asking the Town Board to approve the renewable energy project, which would be located at 221 Scott Avenue, near the southwest corner of the 7.45-acre parcel currently partially occupied by Hustler Powerboats.
This is the second BESS facility application being considered by the board, Senior Planner Matt Charters told board members at Thursday’s work session. The project is “significantly smaller” than the first — a 60 MW/120MWh facility proposed by Rhynland Energy on Edwards Avenue, near the LIPA substation.
Representatives from Sundial Energy fielded questions from the Town Board about the project after Charter’s staff report. The Town Board will decide whether to approve a special permit for the project, and also review its site plan.
Council Member Ken Rothwell said that other renewable energy companies have previously been approved to build projects in Riverhead Town but did not move forward due to a lack of state funding.
“So what makes yours different?” Rothwell asked.
Sundial Energy CEO Austin Schweek said the project is “very financeable,” and said the company has already signed an interconnection agreement with PSEG.
“Obviously, our goal is to operate for the 25 years that we have site control for, and we are not reliant on the retail storage program incentive from [New York State Energy Research and Development Authority],” Schweek said. “So we are just participating in the feeder program through PSEG.”
Charters noted that the Town Code requires all BESS projects to have a decommissioning plan and bond to fully restore the property once the facility is taken offline.
Rothwell, who is also a member of the Wading River Fire Department, asked whether Sundial Energy would financially support training for the Manorville Fire Department, which would respond in case of an emergency at the site.
Nick Patrakis, a representative from Energy Safety Response Group and the project’s safety consultant, said the emergency response plan must be developed in coordination with the local fire department. He added that regular training would be provided at the BESS facility, starting with an initial “familiarization drill.”
“The emergency response procedures are very defensive for the fire department,” Patrakis added, explaining that firefighters are expected to manage and contain the incident while relying on the battery system’s built-in safety features. Water is to be used “defensively” if needed, he said.
Representatives from Sundial Energy would meet with Manorville Fire Department personnel before the project’s public hearing, they said.
According to Charters, the project complies with all Town Code requirements except for landscape screening, which may either be added to the project or waived by the Town Board.
The Suffolk County Planning Commission approved the application at its June 4 meeting.
BESS facilities store electrical energy generated during off-peak hours to be distributed during peak hours. They are considered key to the rapidly developing renewable energy industry and New York State’s renewable energy goals.
The Town Board adopted a code in April 2023 allowing battery energy storage systems within Riverhead Town. The facilities are allowed by special permit in all industrial zones, as well as the Agricultural Protection and Residence A-80 zoning use districts if those facilities are near a LIPA substation. The town’s regulations for safety and siting are based on recommendations from the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA).
Last year, New York State proposed new safety codes that require BESS facilities to have emergency response plans and increased coordination with local fire departments. Officials from Sundial said the project is compliant with those draft codes. State officials are “currently working to finalize and implement the recommendations in the fire code, according to NYSERDA’s website.
The Town Board will next adopt a resolution assuming lead agency status for review of this application under the State Environmental Quality Review Act and issue a declaration of non-significance, which dispenses with further in-depth environmental review. it will also schedule a hearing on the special permit and site plan applications requiring Town Board approval.
Correction: This story has been amended to correct the caption in the featured photo which misidentified Riverhead Town Senior Planner Matthew Charters
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