Faulkner County staff brief committee on proposed lithium‑ion battery storage site near Mayflower

Faulkner County Infrastructure Committee members were briefed on May 9 about a possible stand‑alone lithium‑ion battery energy storage facility proposed for land adjacent to a substation off White City Road, south of Mayflower.

County staff said the company identifying the site — described in county materials as Black Mountain Energy Storage and referenced in follow‑up communications as an Entergy Storage arrangement — is considering a footprint of roughly 2 to 3 acres that would tie directly into the nearby substation to charge and discharge electricity to the grid.

County staff emphasized the item was informational: "This is something that will be looked at in our county," a staff member said, noting the company had recently contacted the county and that no final site plan or purchase was yet complete.

Committee members and county staff flagged several issues that will drive next steps. The facility would use lithium‑ion battery modules enclosed in climate‑controlled metal containers, county materials said. The developer told staff the containers include multiple layers of redundant sensors and automatic shutdown measures intended to detect overheating and prevent fire propagation. The company also said units are tested to UL standards and that industry and state environmental regulations would be followed.

Fire safety topped committee concerns. Chief Hillman is researching firefighting protocols for large lithium‑ion installations, county staff said. "They are responsible for fire suppression on‑site," the staff member said, adding that the company has said it would work with the local fire department on an emergency response plan, provide on‑site training and coordinate response protocols. Committee discussion referenced mutual‑aid help from nearby full‑time departments, including Conway and Maumelle, if needed.

Other practical issues noted by the committee included water access, drainage and flood‑plain considerations, and whether hydrants or other suppression infrastructure would be required by code. Staff cited state building codes and the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 72 as applicable regulatory references and said the state fire marshal would also be involved as the proposal advances.

On community impacts, county staff said normal operation noise would come primarily from auxiliary HVAC and power‑conditioning equipment and described noise levels as comparable to residential HVAC units. Staff reported an informal site visit to other, existing facilities found no “undue noise.” The company also told staff the site would be unmanned during normal operations and would require only periodic maintenance visits.

County members asked about local benefits. The staff member said direct long‑term employment would likely be minimal beyond the construction phase, but that the facility would generate property‑type tax revenue: "They would pay personal property tax," the staff member said.

Next steps identified by staff included continuing communications with the company, reviewing any submitted site plan if the company decides to purchase the land, and coordinating further technical review with the county fire department and state authorities. No formal county action or zoning decision was taken at the meeting.

Committee members asked staff to continue compiling technical and regulatory details for a future agenda item if the project advances.