Proposal for Harley Road battery storage draws safety questions from Planning Board

The Goshen Planning Board reviewed preliminary materials for a proposed battery energy storage facility on Harley Road and voiced caution about siting, safety and emergency preparedness given recent high‑profile battery-storage fires in the region.

Planning Board members said the technology is evolving and some members argued the local risks — notably the difficulty fighting thermal-runaway fires at large lithium-ion installations — were not yet sufficiently understood to place a facility near densely used sites. Board members highlighted proximate community assets including a regional entertainment venue and the county jail and asked for a written emergency-response and evacuation plan that addresses potential off‑site impacts.

Speakers asked for engagement with local fire and emergency services to confirm the town’s ability to respond and to identify responsibility for cleanup and long‑term costs in the event of a catastrophic failure. The board discussed whether battery storage is most appropriately sited near the end user or at remote, nonresidential locations; one participant noted utility representatives have said end-user‑adjacent siting is preferred, not necessarily Harley Road.

The Planning Board did not approve any permit or take a vote on the project. Members asked the applicant to provide detailed safety and monitoring plans, manufacturer fire‑suppression and venting information, an emergency-response protocol drafted with the local fire department, and a description of liability and remediation funding in case of a major event.