Everett council approves TriMount (Jupiter Power) grant of location for battery storage duct bank
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Summary
After an hours‑long public hearing, the Everett City Council voted unanimously to move forward with a petition from TriMount ESS (Jupiter Power) to install an underground electrical duct bank to connect a proposed 20‑acre battery storage project on the former Exxon tank site to local substations; councilors pressed the developer on tax, safety and job commitments and required continued negotiation on a pilot/host community agreement.
The Everett City Council voted to take favorable action on a petition from TriMount ESS LLC (doing business as Jupiter Power) asking permission to install an underground electrical duct bank linking a proposed battery energy storage facility at the former Exxon tank site to local substations.
Attorney David O'Neil and project director Hans Detwiler laid out the proposal in a public hearing, describing a project that would occupy about 20 acres of the 100‑acre site along Beauchamp Street and Robin Street, commence construction in 2026 and enter service around mid‑2028. Detwiler said Jupiter Power operates and maintains its projects rather than flipping them and emphasized grid benefits: batteries can stabilize voltage and respond in fractions of a second to prevent brownouts and blackouts.
The company highlighted community benefits including union construction under a project labor agreement, apprenticeships tied to Everett High School, commitments to remediate and improve streets after construction, plans for native landscaping and rotating public art, and a draft pilot agreement intended to smooth property‑tax receipts over time.
Councilors asked detailed questions about taxes, permanent jobs and public‑safety readiness. Detwiler said the 20‑acre portion of the former oil terminal currently generates roughly $300,000 in taxes and said Jupiter Power’s baseline modeling would likely result in at least ten times that number once operating, but he repeatedly told the council that final figures would be part of a pilot agreement under negotiation. On jobs, the company estimated a small permanent operations staff — "five to ten" positions — with a larger number of short‑term construction jobs.
On safety, the petitioner described ongoing coordination with Everett Fire Department, including training sessions already held, a proposed on‑site water loop and pumps, and consultant input from retired New York City firefighter Brian Fink on emergency response and containment strategies. Detwiler said the firm will provide real‑time monitoring and controls and commit to training first responders to reduce surprises.
Several speakers — including trade representatives and community groups — voiced support during the hearing, noting the developer’s outreach, language access at open houses and commitment to local hiring and apprenticeships. Some councilors urged the administration to appoint a city representative to participate in the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) permitting process and pressed the administration to continue host‑community and pilot‑tax negotiations before the DPU hearing phase.
The council voted in favor of enrollment as amended; the petition will return for ordainment and further review of a pilot/host agreement and project details. The council’s approval moves the project forward in local permitting but does not finalize tax arrangements or a host agreement required for project certainty and lender confidence.
Speakers listed in city records for this item included: Attorney David O'Neil (petition counsel), Hans Detwiler (project director, Jupiter Power), Trooper/consultants and union representatives. The petition carried a roll‑call favorable action vote and will return for ordainment after the city and petitioner resolve formal preamble and pilot agreement elements.
