To the Editor:

The town of New Scotland is currently weighing two requests to approve situating large-scale energy storage systems on Indian Fields Road in Feura Bush and separately, on Wormer Road parcels owned by New Scotland Town Board member Adam Greenberg, who is currently up for re-election in November.

The Altamont Enterprise recently reported that in July 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul appointed a five-member task force to investigate Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) safety protocols after three significant explosions occurred in these storage facilities across New York state that year.

In July 2024, the governor announced proposed changes to the state fire code:

— Requiring industry-funded independent peer reviews for all BESS installations exceeding energy capacity thresholds established for lithium-ion batteries;

— Requiring qualified personnel or representatives with knowledge of the BESS installation are available for dispatch within 15 minutes and able to arrive on scene within four hours to provide support to local emergency responders in the event of a BESS fire;

— Extending safety signage requirements beyond the BESS unit itself to include perimeter fences or security barriers and include a map of the site, BESS enclosures, and associated equipment;

— Removing the Fire Code exemption for BESS projects owned or operated by electrical utilities to ensure that all projects comply with the Fire Code;

— Including a requirement that every BESS facility is equipped with an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and requiring site-specific training to be offered for local fire departments to familiarize them with the project, hazards associated with BESS, and procedures outlined in the ERP;

— Including a Fire Code requirement in all BESS installations for monitoring of fire detection systems by a central station service alarm system to ensure timely, proper notification to the local fire department in the event of a fire alarm; and

— Introducing a new provision in the Fire Code mandating regular industry-funded special inspections for BESS installations to ensure thorough safety and compliance.

We are told the state’s Fire Code has been updated to address these concerns; the potential risks these facilities pose to the surrounding community are not eliminated.

The town of New Scotland voters should also be aware The Altamont Enterprise reports that New Leaf Energy has advanced a proposal to install two such facilities on Wormer Road on properties owned by Councilman Greenberg, who is currently up for re-election this November. Voters must ask themselves these questions:

— 1. What are the direct benefits to the residents of the town of New Scotland in housing BESS facilities? Does it provide increased revenues that offset the risks and costs borne by the residents of the town?

— 2. Do town residents want to accept the safety risks BESS facilities pose if situated in the town of New Scotland?

— 3. Should a diminishing number of volunteer firefighters be burdened with the added responsibility for the level of training and actual service required to extinguish fires in these facilities should they occur? If the town of New Scotland were forced to implement a paid firefighting force, what impact would BESS have on the tax burden for town residents?

— 4. Are you confident that a town board member up for re-election with a personal stake in advancing BESS in the town of New Scotland can represent your interests when it could represent substantial sums to the property owner(s) over the installation’s projected 25-year life expectancy?

Brian Nopper

Voorheesville