Residents press commissioners on battery storage safety, developer dispute and local services during public comment

At a public-comment session on March 17, several Skagit County residents told commissioners they are worried about two proposed lithium battery energy storage (BESS) sites and urged additional public review, raised process and notification concerns, and sought county help on a private easement dispute.

Malcolm McCartney of Anacortes described longstanding loss of farmland and forests and urged the county not to allow the BESS sites near wetland and tree-covered areas. “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,” McCartney said, framing his opposition to proposed storage units he told the board could occupy at least 27 acres and, in his view, pose a fire and toxic-smoke hazard.

Ingrid Hinton of Mount Vernon read excerpts of a letter attributed to retired California fire officials and safety experts and urged the commissioners not to approve a proposed site without “a fair and thorough public review” and an extension of the comment period. Hinton said some residents learned about a proposed project only recently and accused developers of using what she described as a legislative loophole related to AB 205 to bypass standard notice and review; she pressed for clear evacuation and remediation plans and asked who would bear costs if residents could not return to their homes after an incident.

Rebecca Peck raised broader environmental concerns tied to hydropower and export contracts, and warned of potential toxic risks associated with large-scale battery storage. She said that as regional power is transmitted and stored, local resources and fisheries have borne costs and that long-term contracts can shift risk to the local environment.

Separately, Larry Burisma of Abel Lane used his public comment to recount a 20-year land-use and easement dispute with a developer. Burisma said the developer filed false documents that allowed a permit approval in 2022, he has a court judgment and has spent roughly $80,000 on legal fees, and that county staff responses have characterized the issue as a legal dispute. He asked for a meeting with his commissioner and county staff to seek county assistance in resolving county-related aspects of the case.

Other public commenters included Ed Johnson, who used his time to discuss cultural changes and public decency, and Laurita Humble (online), who requested curbside recycling at Lake Cavanaugh Road. Commissioner Burns acknowledged the volume of concerns and outlined recent county outreach: meetings with Emergency Management and public-health officials, ongoing work on senior-center services and a Northwest Regional Council process to reissue a Meals on Wheels request for proposals after no bidders responded. Burns said staff are continuing outreach and review and noted an upcoming North Star meeting for mayors and councils.

The remarks in the public-comment period did not produce a formal county vote; commissioners took comments for the record and noted follow-up conversations and meetings would be needed for specific complaints and for regulatory matters requiring extended review.

Provenance: Public comments on battery storage and procedural concerns appear beginning with Malcolm McCartney (SEG 1240) and continued through Ingrid Hinton (SEG 1309) and Rebecca Peck (SEG 1371); the easement dispute comment appears at SEG 1171 (Larry Burisma).