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Manassas staff outline proposed battery energy storage system; neighbors, fire officials press for stricter setbacks and emergency plans
Summary
City staff and fire officials presented details of a proposed 7 MW lithium‑iron‑phosphate battery energy storage system (BESS) at an existing Church Street utility site, prompting residents to press for larger setbacks, engineered containment and formal evacuation plans. No council vote was taken; staff says a public town hall is scheduled and any
City staff and the fire chief presented a technical briefing Sept. 8 on a proposed 7‑megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) to be sited at the city’s Church Street utility property near Quarry Road, saying the installation is intended for “peak load demand shaving” rather than market trading or backup power.
The presentation by Tarek Ali (utilities/public works) and Fire Chief Mills described the system as a 7 MW nameplate capable of discharging over a two‑hour period (14 megawatt‑hours total) manufactured to Tesla specifications and using lithium‑iron‑phosphate chemistry. Ali said the city plans to operate the system itself under a 15‑year contract with the vendor and that the agreement limits the installation to 150 charge/discharge cycles per year, which he said equates to a maximum of about 300 operational hours annually.
City staff said the BESS would be used to reduce the city’s demand charges — a major portion of its wholesale bill — and to reduce the city’s use of on‑site diesel generators…
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