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Cheektowaga hears plan for 1-acre battery storage project on 3695 Broadway
Summary
At its Nov. 25 meeting, the Cheektowaga Town Board heard a presentation from AC Power on a proposed 1-acre battery energy storage system on a 7-acre Superfund site at 3695 Broadway. Company representatives described safety measures, a 25-year lifespan and required DEC review; zoning and fire-safety reviews remain outstanding.
At the Nov. 25 Town of Cheektowaga Board meeting, attorney Peter Sorgy and a representative of AC Power outlined plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) to occupy about 1 acre of a 7-acre brownfield at 3695 Broadway.
"This is a 7 acre site...we are only going to occupy about 1 acre of the entire 7 acre site," said Kinshuk, the AC Power representative, describing a preliminary site footprint the company says was chosen in consultation with remedial engineers. Peter Sorgy, the project's attorney, said the property is a Superfund site and that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will also need to approve the proposed use.
Company representatives said the project would tie into existing NYSEG infrastructure, aim to improve short-term grid stability by capturing low-cost energy and discharging during price spikes, and could generate construction jobs and future property tax revenue. Kinshuk said the planned system would include substantial setbacks and landscaping and that AC Power would provide a decommissioning assurance at end of life. "We are incorporating 5 fire safety measures starting from the cell level, going to the battery level, and then to the battery pack level," Kinshuk said, describing layered detection and containment systems.
When asked whether the company would train local firefighters, Sorgy said, "Yes. Absolutely. It's standard protocol to to meet with the fire department, to provide whatever training they need, in some cases to provide equipment." The presenters said they plan to meet with the town fire chief and other emergency responders during site-plan review.
Town planning staff explained why the developer sought relief from the Zoning Board of Appeals rather than presenting directly to the Town Board. Dan Young said the application is being treated as a private utility development and the proposed use is not listed in the town's zoning use catalog, so the applicant requested a use variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The board was told the matter also requires environmental review (an EAF determination) before the Zoning Board may act, and DEC approval is required because of the site's Superfund status. Officials said additional technical materials, site-plan engineering and public-safety discussions will follow as the application proceeds through the EAF and site-plan processes.
The board did not take action on the BESS project at the meeting; presenters and staff said follow-up reviews — including EAF, fire-safety coordination and site plan approvals — are next steps.
