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Developer proposes two 5MW battery projects in Syracuse; fire chief says plan does not meet code
Summary
New Leaf Energy told the Common Council it plans two 5‑megawatt battery facilities at 426 East Brighton to provide grid reliability and ratepayer discounts; the fire chief said the submitted plan does not meet fire code and the council agreed to refer the matter to a committee and hold public discussion.
Terrence Nolan of New Leaf Energy told the Syracuse Common Council on Nov. 1 that his company is proposing two 5‑megawatt battery energy storage systems at 426 East Brighton. Nolan said the projects are intended to provide reliability to the grid during peak demand and could yield discounts for local ratepayers.
"We're proposing 2 5 megawatt battery projects, at 426 East Brighton," Nolan said. He said New Leaf has held four community meetings and is working with the fire department to "satisfy concerns regarding safety."
Fire Chief Mike Mons told councilors the department has reviewed the proposal informally and concluded the plan as submitted does not meet the fire code. "As it sits, the proposal doesn't meet the fire code," Mons said, adding that the fire department typically conducts formal review after permit applications are submitted and that the department expects developers to hire design professionals who understand applicable code requirements.
Mons said the fire chief can sometimes exercise discretion on certain proposals, but he would not override code requirements in the current submission. He advised developers to submit plans that conform to the code so the department can perform a formal review.
Councilors responded by saying the matter should be the subject of a committee meeting so technical concerns and public input can be aired. Several councilors encouraged residents to contact their representatives and sign up for the committee discussion; the council did not take formal action on the proposal at the study session.
What happens next: Councilors asked staff to schedule a committee meeting to review the application and said they welcome constituent feedback before any land‑use or permit decisions.
