Planning commission holds over 300‑MW Eastside battery storage project after safety and habitat concerns

Accelergen Energy’s plan for a 300‑megawatt battery energy storage facility near Interstate 435 and Metropolitan Avenue was the focus of a lengthy Feb. 9 hearing before the City Planning Commission, which voted to hold the special use permit and preliminary plan review over until the commission’s March 9 meeting pending an updated wildlife report.

Josh Scogin, introduced himself as a co‑founder of Accelergen Energy and told commissioners the proposal would occupy roughly a 12–15 acre operational footprint within a 64‑acre purchase option, leaving about 50 acres undisturbed. Scogin said the company selected the site because regional grid models from Southwest Power Pool identified the nearby substation as one of the most congested locations in the region and that storage there would deliver locational value to ratepayers.

"We have secured 64 acres of land," Scogin said. "Our footprint is relatively small within that 64 acres; we'll disturb about 15 and the final footprint will be about 12." He said the project would use…