The proposed Raquette Lake project is ongoing, says National Grid
By Chloe Bennett
A proposed battery storage facility intended to fix outages in Raquette Lake is facing backlash from the town of Long Lake government and thousands of online petitioners.
The Long Lake Town Board sent a letter by email to National Grid on June 12 stating that the town wants to stop the project’s progression. “It is crystal clear to us that the people we represent do not want a battery energy storage system, as currently planned, anywhere in our Town,” the letter read.
The board told National Grid and its partners, REV Renewables, to “cease further work to place a battery energy storage system within the Town of Long Lake, and especially within the heart of the pristine Hamlet of Raquette Lake.”
National Grid responded that it “respects” the concerns but did not indicate it plans to halt the microgrid in the central Adirondacks. “We are committed to delivering reliable energy to each of our 1.7 million electric customers in upstate New York, and we will continue to work with local residents and community leaders to explore opportunities that enhance service and reliability for our customers along Route 28 in an affordable way,” the company wrote.
The online petition on Change.org against the project’s installation accumulated 25,614 signatures as of Monday afternoon.
Since 2010, there have been 83 outages in Raquette Lake with an average duration of 4.9 hours, according to data from National Grid.
The microgrid, an outcome of a 2019 call for proposals looking to address regular outages, would include 12 tractor-trailer-sized modules on about 2.4 acres on Antler’s Road in the hamlet of Raquette Lake. According to National Grid’s bid document, the facility is a less costly and complicated alternative to traditional solutions such as building new supply lines. The estimated cost of the project would be around $50 million.
Residents have cited concerns about the environmental impacts of the battery storage facility, including the possibility of fire and effects on wildlife. According to Long Lake Supervisor Clay Arsenault, it is currently unclear if the town has the power to stop the project. Any changes to the microgrid’s plans would be in collaboration with National Grid and REV Renewables, which has been tasked with building the project, National Grid spokesperson Jared Paventi said.
Mike Vogt, senior vice president of development for REV Renewables, said the company is a leader in energy storage facilities. “Battery energy storage systems are proven to be dependable, safe and effective solutions to improve reliability and integrate clean energy into the electric grid,” Vogt wrote in an email. “REV Renewables is committed to cooperatively serving our partners, customers and the public with reliable, clean energy and we look forward to continuing our relationship with National Grid.”
As a nonprofit, we rely on the support of readers like you.
Join the community of people helping to power our independent,
Adirondack-focused reporting.
Oh please. Effects on wildlife? From a battery that sits there inertly? Pretty weak. This is the future. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
This is the United States of America, not some 3rd world dictatorship! The Town Board and the will of the people has to prevail. We have no intention of ‘getting out of the way’! Those that want it in their community can put it in their own backyard.
Raquette Lake is a small community in the center of the pristine 6 million acre Adirondack Park, protected by the Adirondack Park Agency. Raquette Lake watershed goes all the way to the St. Lawrence River.
This type of ill advised installation should never have gotten this far along that we have spend our time, money and efforts, and considerable angst, to resist an attempt to force it on us! It is not environmentally correct, especially in the proposed heavily wooded residential location within the Hamlet and near the lake. In case of any failure and fire, & resulting toxic fumes, it would threaten our community and residents; our small fire dept and ambulance service should not have to deal with protection of lives and environment involved. The project is not responsibly cost effective for the consumer and a huge waste of capital that should be better directed or not spent!
Jim Blanchard – Resident
Texanite,
The proposed location for this is wrong on every level. These are 12 tractor trailer size lithium battieries. Just one of them catching fire would be devastating.
Lithium battery fires are very difficult to extinguish.
We are a tiny community with a volunteer fire department of 5 active members. The nearest neighboring fire station is 10 – 12 miles in either direction.
It would burn surrounding forest, and as dry as this spring has been, it would be devasting to the forest, feasibly for miles. Look at the wildfires out west and note the devastation of forests and land for miles!!!
There are also many homes at the end of this narrow county road and in the event of a fire, they would be stranded with no egress.
These are just a few of the reasons that this should NOT be placed in Raquette Lake, nor IMO, anywhere in the Adirondack Forest Preserve.
Nyserda itself in a pro bess video states bess should be located in industrial zones area away from residential area.proposed site is in the hamlet, bordered by state forest and residential and lake/ watershed is downslope. Adk is no place for a bess.
This in the “protected” Adirondacks? https://westchester.news12.com/fire-at-battery-storage-facility-continues-to-burn-off-combustible-material Look at the environmental impact and the health of people breathing the air.
Where is the common sense. If a storm comes through and knocks down power lines, HOW will this power get to homes without power lines?
Kudos to the Long Lake Town Board for listening to the outcry from Raquette Lake residents opposing the continued construction in the hamlet of what’s now been termed the “Battery Farm”.
As per my understanding, the Town of Long Lake, in the person of the Board, must grant a permit to National Grid to allow continued construction. It now appears certain the Board will not grant such a permit. To date, so far as I know, the National Grid has not submitted a request for one. Despite NG’s bravado, it remains to be seen whether it will do so.
In any event, the struggle continues. There’s too much money at stake — upwards of $50 M, accorrding to the National Grid itself.
I hope they can stop the battery farm. It is the WRONG location. As you read about last week (June 30) down in Westchester County, their residents had no idea such a place was built near their homes, until it caught fire from a storm. Many toxins were found in the air and the local Town Supervisor made a cautionary plea: “I think the state of New York, which is promoting this, needs to take a step back and say we need to evaluate safety protocols, locations, and all of those issues,” said Warwick Town Supervisor Mike Sweeton.
https://westchester.news12.com/officials-fire-at-lithium-ion-battery-storage-facility-is-out-but-site-still-extremely-hot