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Residents petition commissioners to pause AES battery storage project, cite safety and transparency concerns
Summary
Landowners and Holland officials presented petitions and public comments urging the Dubois County Commissioners to impose a pause or moratorium on the proposed AES battery storage facility, citing lack of project details, fire‑suppression and decommissioning concerns; Commissioner Blessinger said AES plans a stakeholder meeting in November.
Property owners and town officials urged the Dubois County Commissioners on Nov. 3 to halt or pause consideration of an AES battery storage facility proposed on 750 W, citing safety, transparency and decommissioning concerns.
Randy Bartelt delivered petitions signed by numerous landowners opposing the proposed Crossvine Solar AES battery storage facility and said residents want the county to consider a pause or moratorium on the project. Property owner Holly Bartelt Gogel told the board there has been "no public information or communications received from AES on this project," that the Town of Holland has received no plans, maps or timelines, and raised "fire suppression and containment" and "health and safety" concerns for nearby residents. She also asked whether the county has a decommissioning plan and whether funds for decommissioning have been secured and whether Ordinance 2022‑12 should be strengthened.
Commissioner Chad A. Blessinger read a statement from AES saying a stakeholder meeting will be held in November but that no date had yet been set. Blessinger noted that countywide zoning could prevent this type of project but acknowledged that zoning has been a point of contention among landowners.
Town of Holland officials joined residents in pressing for clearer emergency-response and evacuation planning. Holland Town Council President Melanie Barrett flagged concerns about emergency medical services and fire response, and Town Board Member John Kaltenbacher worried about evacuation plans for schools and day‑care centers and about who would pay for cleanup in the event of an incident. Resident Dwayne Kaeck said he is unable to sell his home and has been unable to reach anyone at AES to address his concerns.
The commissioners did not adopt a moratorium at the meeting. Blessinger said the county had received some information from AES and that a stakeholder meeting was anticipated; residents and town officials asked the board for more direct notice and details. The issue will return to the board for further consideration as information becomes available.
