Citizens and commissioners raise safety, reliability and local-control concerns over battery storage and Campbell plant plans

A Georgetown Township volunteer who identified himself as Joseph Parnell McCarter urged the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 26 to put a new round of “Save the Campbell” resolutions on a future agenda, arguing that large lithium-ion battery storage projects and an aggressive net-zero agenda pose risks to grid reliability, cost and environmental safety.

“More and more Ottawa County citizens are coming to realize just how bad the net 0 agenda is for us, not only in terms of grid reliability and cost, but also in terms of the dangers with the growing number of massive lithium ion battery storage plants,” McCarter told the board. He asked the board to consider exploring local, cooperative alternatives to current utility arrangements and to place the petitioned resolutions on an upcoming agenda.

Later in the meeting, multiple commissioners raised separate local concerns about a proposed lithium-ion battery storage development in Blendon Township. Commissioner Moss summarized residents’ complaints that the project surfaced with little prior public notice, that the landowner is also a member of the township planning commission, and that public-safety and environmental questions remain unresolved.

Moss noted community concerns including fire-suppression limits for lithium-ion systems, potential for toxic plumes or heavy-metal runoff if suppression water is used, proximity to homes and schools, and the speed with which developers can advance projects under the recent state law that, according to some commissioners, limits local control. “Most recently, there was a township meeting last week, which was packed wall to wall with people,” Moss said, describing residents’ frustration.

No formal county action was taken on Mr. McCarter’s request during the meeting; commissioners and staff discussed the issues and urged continued public monitoring and coordination with township officials. Several commissioners asked staff to track battery proposals and to report back on safety reviews, local permitting implications and any state law constraints that affect local land-use control.