At the Nov. 10 public-comment period, Anacortes resident Elka McCartney told the Skagit County Board of Commissioners she opposes a proposed battery energy storage facility near Padilla Bay and cited safety concerns.

Quoting Fire Chief Timothy Howe of Oakham, Massachusetts, McCartney said, "After examining the evidence, I've come to the conclusion that if built, this energy storage system would pose a public safety threat to our residents and surrounding communities due to the imminent catastrophic risk of fire and its collateral damage." She told commissioners the local fire department would not have appropriate resources to handle a thermal runaway incident and said the project is not truly "green" because some of the power the facility would trade is generated from fossil fuels.

The chair asked McCartney to leave a copy of the citation so staff could verify the source. Commissioners did not debate the substance during public comment; the board received the remarks as part of the public record.

Rebecca Peck of Bow also spoke, offering a Veterans Day reflection and political commentary; her remarks were personal and not linked to a county action item.

The board confirmed it would accept written materials and invited further written comment to county staff.