Residents urge Allegany County legislators to oppose Hess Road battery storage project; board discusses limits of local control

Two residents urged the Allegany County Board of Legislators on June 10 to oppose a proposed battery energy storage facility on Hess Road, saying the project would threaten local water, soil and wildlife.

Bridget Tojek, who identified herself as a Granger resident, said she and others formed a group called Stewarding Elkhart County Natural Resources to oppose the project and similar renewable developments. “I have water that comes out of my natural artesian well that comes out at a pH of 9.3. I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose something like that,” Tojek said, and told legislators she planned to return next month with petitions signed across the county.

Linda Cash, a Town of Amity resident who said she lives about a half-mile from the proposed site, described local environmental and safety concerns around the crossroads of I‑86 and State Route 19. “It’s the watershed. It’s the animals. It’s the health to the air we breathe, the soil that we plant our farms and crops in. It’s the water that we need to drink,” Cash said, adding she feared nearby traffic and other impacts.

Chair thanked the speakers and said the board shares a love for Allegany County and is trying to ensure decisions are made locally and in the county’s best interest. Board members discussed the county Industrial Development Agency (IDA), noting the IDA was created by the board and members are appointed by the board but that the agency acts independently under state statute. “We’re trying to do everything we can to ensure that decisions are made locally,” a legislator said, while acknowledging legal and governance limits.

Several legislators encouraged towns and villages to work together and consider local laws or coordinated approaches to make projects less attractive if they conflict with local priorities. The board did not take formal action regarding the Hess Road project at the meeting; members advised the commenters about the IDA’s meeting schedule and suggested attendees contact the IDA and local municipal boards for next steps.

The county clerk later noted correspondence received from Emily Zimmer and from Bridget (same commenter who identified herself as Tojek at the podium) expressing concern about the proposed Hess Road battery energy storage facility and linking to an online petition.

What happens next: Board members said they will continue researching legal options — including whether a local law could be adopted without affecting towns’ home‑rule powers — and will coordinate with municipal leaders. No formal resolution about the Hess Road project was introduced or voted on June 10.