During a recent government meeting, significant concerns were raised regarding the proliferation of battery energy storage systems in New York. The New York Independent System Operator currently has 100 proposals for such systems, with capacities ranging from 100 megawatts to 650 megawatts. One notable project is a 100-megawatt facility planned for the town of Ellicott, which is expected to cost taxpayers $100 million and will store electricity for 2 to 4 hours.

A speaker highlighted the potential dangers associated with lithium-ion battery storage, citing risks of thermal runaway fires and explosions that can burden local fire departments for extended periods. A report from Clean Energy Associates indicated that 26% of inspected battery energy storage systems had manufacturing defects related to fire safety.

The speaker expressed skepticism about the financial motivations behind these projects, suggesting that they represent a new \"scam\" by developers and investors, particularly as investments in wind and solar energy have reportedly declined by 78%. Concerns were also raised about the financial stability of Dunkirk, which has suffered from a significant loss of tax revenue due to changes in energy production and regulatory fines imposed by the state.

The meeting concluded without further public comments, as attendees moved on to the agenda.