Residents urge revocation of AES Crossvine battery permit; commissioners say no cause found

Korrine Whitehead, a Huntingburg resident, urged the Dubois County Board of Commissioners on April 6 to revoke the permit for the AES Crossvine Battery Energy Storage System, saying the project’s proximity to Southwest Dubois School Corporation buildings and a nearby airport poses fire, toxicity and aviation-safety risks. “The toxicity will spread if there is a fire,” Whitehead said, and asked elected officials to help residents make their voices heard.

Several other residents expanded on those concerns during the public-comment period. Dave Duncan distributed battery fire survey results and said the built project does not match Permit 2024-02, and asked who would be responsible if something happened. Jared Harris said he feared the facility could be a security target and said there would be “no security” at the site. Residents also asked about evacuation plans for children at nearby schools and daycares and who inspects the BESS systems.

Trena Roudebush, a representative of EDP Renewables, responded to questions from the audience and the board, saying the Federal Aviation Administration has approved solar panels near airports and that reflectivity from panels is lower than a body of water. “There have been no known instances of solar panels causing radar interference,” Roudebush said. She also said decommissioning agreements and bonds address bankruptcy and long-term liability concerns and that agricultural land-use valuations for solar have increased, producing greater property tax revenue for landowners.

Commissioner Chad A. Blessinger reported that he found no evidence the project has deviated from the original site plan described in Permit 2024-02 and said the BESS will remain at 85 megawatts. He said the county has the road use agreement and bond in place, Indiana Homeland Security and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will oversee inspections, and that he has requested an NFPA report that has not yet been received. “Prior to going live, Homeland Security will perform an inspection,” Blessinger said, and he concluded that he has not found cause to revoke the permit.

County staff and residents referenced state law and recent legislation: SEA 390 (2023) created an incentive fund for eligible communities but, as Blessinger noted, no incentives are currently available; HEA 1123 was cited as giving Indiana Homeland Security oversight responsibilities for BESS systems. The board did not take formal action to change the permit at the meeting.

What happens next: commissioners said they are awaiting technical reports, including the requested NFPA documentation and Homeland Security review, before further action. Residents asked for continued engagement and clearer answers about inspection authority, evacuation plans and local zoning; those items remain unresolved in the record of this meeting.