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Reviewers flag fire, groundwater and emergency-response gaps in Hartley Road battery storage submission
Summary
Planning reviewers raised safety and environmental questions about a proposed battery energy storage system at 114 Hartley Road, including long-duration fire behavior, possible groundwater contamination, evacuation and first-responder safety, and the need for clearer emergency-response and mitigation plans.
Planning reviewers told project applicants and staff they need more detail before the board can assess a battery energy storage system (BESS) proposed for 114 Hartley Road. The committee's concerns centered on fire behavior of large battery arrays, potential for contaminants to reach groundwater, and gaps in emergency response and evacuation planning for adjacent facilities and large public events.
The applicant submitted supplemental materials and a hazard-mitigation narrative identifying that the site lies within an aquifer overlay. The applicant's materials assert the facility is unlikely to have an adverse groundwater impact, and noted emergency response plans that do not rely on direct water-based fire suppression. Reviewers contested that conclusion and asked for…
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