Battery energy storage systems

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.

The 60 MW/120 MW kWh battery storage facility on Edwards Avenue in Calverton was first proposed in early 2022 but got caught up in the Calverton industrial moratorium.

An energy company seeking an exemption from Southampton’s moratorium on BESS applications faced scrutiny by Town Board members and strong opposition from the Riverhead Board of Education during a hearing on its exemption application last night at Southampton Town Hall.

Proposed regulations for battery energy storage systems would implement the recommendations of a fire safety working group created by Gov. Hochul after three fires at battery energy storage facilities in N.Y. last summer, including one in East Hampton.

Representatives of Key Capture Energy, a company seeking to build a 50-megawatt battery energy storage facility on LIPA-owned property in Shoreham, will make a presentation to the Wading River Civic Association Thursday night.

A renewable energy company is proposing the development of a five megawatt commercial battery energy storage facility on the corner of Pulaski Street and JT Boulevard in Riverhead.

The Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group Gov. Kathy Hochul established last summer after fires at battery energy storage facilities in New York has issued 15 draft recommendations. A public comment period is open through March 5.

The proposed three-month moratorium on commercial battery energy storage system facilities in Riverhead is no longer necessary, Supervisor Tim Hubbard said yesterday, with the state about to issue new safety regulations that will apply to any BESS facilities built in Riverhead.

Riverhead's proposed 6-month moratorium on industrial development hit a snag yesterday when the Suffolk County Planning Commission rejected it, authorizing a 3-month moratorium instead. Overriding the commission requires four votes — unlikely for an already-divided Town Board.

Members of the Riverhead Town Board got an earful from frustrated residents advocating for moratoriums on industrial development and battery energy storage systems at Tuesday night's meeting.