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Planning commission approves Gainesville battery storage on school land after safety debate
Summary
The commission approved Light Shift Energy’s public‑facility review for a two‑phase, 20 MW battery energy storage facility on a school‑board parcel in Gainesville after lengthy public comments about fire risk, site selection, and whether the use should require a special‑use permit.
The Prince William County Planning Commission on July 16 approved PFR 2025‑00007, a public‑facility review for a two‑phase battery energy storage project proposed by Light Shift Energy on a school‑board parcel in Gainesville, drawing sustained public concern about safety, siting and the review process.
Light Shift’s director of development, Ricky Elder, said the company has operational projects in Virginia and along the East Coast and has an executed lease with the school board for the Gainesville parcel. The applicant described a phased project — two 10‑megawatt AC phases for a combined 20 MW AC — and said its design uses engineered enclosures, remote monitoring and third‑party testing.
“Safety is the most important thing to us and is part of our DNA,” said Joe…
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