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Ennis commission repeals GladPath battery-storage permit over water and safety concerns
Summary
The Ennis City Commission voted to repeal a special‑use permit for a proposed 50 MW GladPath battery‑energy storage system after staff warned the project missed a one‑year commencement window, left unresolved civil‑plan and stormwater questions, and posed potential runoff risks to Bardwell Lake, the city’s primary drinking-water source.
The Ennis City Commission voted April 21 to repeal the special‑use permit that had authorized GladPath Power Solutions to build a 50‑megawatt battery‑energy storage facility on about 7.71 acres north of Bardwell Lake.
Assistant City Manager Diane Ortiz told the commission staff had reviewed the applicant’s file and found the SUP—approved in December 2021—had not “commenced” within the one‑year window required by the ordinance. Ortiz said a preliminary‑plat application arrived in June 2024 and civil plan review in June 2025—more than a year after the approval—and staff identified multiple unresolved plan deficiencies, including drainage, stormwater controls and fire‑safety items that were not addressed in resubmitted plans.
Ortiz also highlighted the site’s proximity to Bardwell Lake and the city’s concern that stormwater or runoff from a thermal‑runaway fire at a battery facility could reach the lake. She cited recent industry incidents and excerpts from a risk assessment noting that fires at utility‑scale lithium‑ion installations can flare up over days, emit airborne contaminants and produce runoff containing heavy metals and persistent compounds. Ortiz said the applicant’s own submissions did not include a comprehensive soil‑and‑water management plan or measures to assure adequate fire‑suppression water at the site.
City staff recommended repeal after noting the SUP’s one‑year commencement condition had lapsed and required civil corrections remained outstanding. No applicant representative was present at the hearing to address those deficiencies. Commissioners raised whether GladPath could seek an alternative site away from the lake; staff said an applicant could submit a fresh SUP and would have to satisfy the same development review process for any new location.
Commissioner [name on record: moved motion] moved to approve the repeal ordinance; the motion was seconded and carried with the ayes called in open session. The repeal removes the prior ordinance authorization for the proposed battery‑storage installation on the identified parcel.
What happens next: the decision repeals the prior land‑use authorization for GladPath at this location. If the company or another developer wishes to pursue battery storage in Ennis again, staff said they must submit full civil plans and a new SUP or identify an alternative site and proceed through the standard review process. The commission noted it remains open to the concept of battery storage away from primary water sources but will require thorough mitigation for stormwater, fire‑response and public‑safety concerns.
Sources: public hearing presentation by Diane Ortiz (assistant city manager) and staff materials presented to the commission.
