Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local residents press commissioners on safety of AES Crossvine battery storage; county outlines emergency measures
Summary
Residents told the Dubois County Commissioners they fear fire and dust risks from the nearby AES Crossvine battery energy storage system; the board said emergency services have been trained and AES will provide a water tank and monitoring personnel.
Rita Bartelt, identified in the record as a non-participating landowner, told the Dubois County Commissioners she has safety concerns about the AES Crossvine Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), asking how homeowners would be compensated if a fire affects a residence and saying "she felt the public is concerned about safety." The board heard multiple public comments about dust and construction timing and about the adequacy of mitigation measures.
Commissioner President Chad A. Blessinger replied that local emergency management and fire departments "have been trained in the event of an emergency," adding that AES "will be installing a water tank that will also be available to local emergency services" and that AES will provide personnel to monitor the BESS either on-site or remotely. Blessinger also reported AES agreed to change Saturday pile-driving start from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and to try to avoid residential areas on Saturdays.
Public commenters provided additional safety details. Randy Bartelt displayed photos and reported dust coverage from AES construction near adjacent landowners and urged attention on safety and mitigation. Jacey Lamb described BESS fire behavior, saying water cannot stop a thermal runaway fire, only cool surroundings, and warned of the risk that a plume could ignite and that there is no standardized playbook to fight a BESS fire. Paul Gasser urged on-site compliance monitoring but said such monitoring might be only cosmetic, calling it "lipstick on a pig," and noted the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) is involved and funded by ratepayers.
The board did not take formal regulatory action at the meeting but approved follow-up steps already underway: Blessinger reported coordination with Emergency Management and local fire departments, AES's planned mitigation (water tank and monitoring), and scheduling changes for construction. Commissioners said they will continue discussions about monitoring and compliance (including an EDP offer to fund a consultant/compliance officer) at a future meeting. The next regular meeting is set for July 20, 2026.
