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Residents urge commissioners to oppose AES battery storage near Jasper airport; county says it lacks regulatory authority
Summary
Residents Rita and Randy Bartelt urged the Dubois County Commissioners to oppose an AES battery storage facility near the airport, citing chemical fire and toxic-gas risks; Commissioner Blessinger said the county lacks authority to regulate battery storage and no formal AES information had been received.
At the Oct. 6 meeting, residents Rita and Randy Bartelt asked the Dubois County Commissioners not to support a proposed AES solar-park battery storage facility on 750 W near the Jasper airport, citing safety concerns including the potential for chemical fires, thermal run-off and emitted gases.
Landowner Brent Ring raised concerns about the proximity of schoolchildren to the AES project site. Jasper resident and county councilmember Alex Hohl asked whether the solar parks would provide specialized training for local firefighters and noted prevailing winds could spread hazards.
Commissioner Chad A. Blessinger responded that under current local rules the county cannot regulate battery storage facilities, explaining that agreements for such systems are made between landowners and private solar-park operators. Blessinger also said the county had not received any formal information about the AES battery storage project as of the meeting.
The discussion was recorded as public comment; no action was taken and no formal permit or project documents were presented to the board at the meeting.
