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Covington Square resident warns trustees about proposed lithium‑ion battery storage lease near homes
Summary
A Covington Square resident raised safety, environmental and process concerns during public comment about a proposed two‑acre lithium battery storage project offered to the neighborhood by private developers.
During the Jan. 28 Canton Township Board of Trustees meeting, a Covington Square resident urged trustees to consider safety and environmental risks tied to a developer proposal to site lithium‑ion battery storage near homes.
Von Mittelstaedt (who also used the name Von Winn in the meeting) told trustees that her neighborhood association had been approached by Clean Grid Development, which she said was under contract with Sankarfa Solar to lease a roughly two‑acre parcel in the Covington Square field near Lily and Cherry Hill for battery storage. "While lithium batteries are widely celebrated for their efficiency and longevity, it's crucial to recognize the potential risks they pose when placed in close proximity to residential properties," she told the board, citing fire and hazardous‑waste concerns and saying the parcel is a wetland.
Mittelstaedt asked whether developers consult the township planning department or fire officials before entering into neighborhood‑level conversations, and whether the HOA vote scheduled for Feb. 15 would alone allow the project to proceed. She said the HOA vote would determine whether the association continues conversations with the developer.
Township staff at the meeting directed the resident to speak with Patrick Sloan (a township staff member referenced during the session) and noted that staff would be available after the meeting to discuss next steps.
Why it matters: The comment raises neighborhood questions about the siting and emergency preparedness for behind‑the‑meter or community battery installations. The resident asked trustees for transparency on the approval path and what involvement, if any, township departments would have in reviewing safety, wetland, and emergency response planning.
No trustee action or vote on the proposed battery project was taken at the meeting; the remarks were part of the public comment period.
