Residents press safety, noise and environmental concerns over proposed battery storage; experts describe 'let it burn' response

Several residents told the board they worry about continuous noise, toxic fumes and whether local fire departments have the equipment required to respond to a battery event.

Bob Jumkosa, a new resident, told the board: "This is a sound that may be low... but it will never stop." He also asked whether emergency crews have special equipment to contain toxic byproducts of lithium battery fires and who would pay for it.

In response, the developer and an independent consultant from Fire and Risk Alliance described industry testing and response protocols. The consultant said monitoring and staging at a safe distance are the standard approach and that suppressants such as water do not stop thermal runaway; instead, responders monitor and allow the fuel to burn out under controlled conditions. The consultant described multi‑level testing (cell, module, unit) — referenced in the hearing as standards like "UL 95 40 a" and "UL9548" — designed to prevent propagation of thermal runaway. "These batteries have to go through extensive testing... to mitigate this hazard of thermal runaway or flaming propagation," the consultant told the board.

Planning staff and the applicant pointed to permit conditions intended to mitigate risks: required noise studies, a posted public liaison, emergency‑response training for local crews, penalties for failure to comply with traffic management, and requirements for the developer to fund certain emergency resources if needed. Nearby residents and at least one property owner urged annual first‑responder training rather than multi‑year refreshers.