Poughkeepsie Board Cites Battery Fire to Oppose Storage Facilities

A recent fire at a lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Orange County has sparked opposition from Town of Poughkeepsie Republicans. The fire, which continues to burn, is believed to have started due to water infiltration. This incident follows a similar fire in 2023 at the same facility, prompting Town of Warwick officials to maintain a strict moratorium on new battery storage facilities. According to Mid Hudson News, Town of Warwick Supervisor Jesse Dwyer expressed concerns over public safety due to emissions from the fire.

Across the U.S., fears of battery fires are leading more localities to oppose energy storage projects. As reported by InformNNY, places like Island Park, New York, have enacted moratoriums on such projects. These systems, critical for storing energy from renewable sources, have faced scrutiny due to incidents like a fire in California earlier this year.

Despite safety improvements, concerns remain. Experts acknowledge that while failures are rare, no system is foolproof. In response, New York has adopted fire codes requiring modular design to prevent fire spread. However, communities remain cautious, with some enacting temporary bans until more is known about the technology's safety.