Letters

This coming Thursday, June 8, the Southampton Town Planning Board will most likely rule on whether to allow a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Hampton Bays at North Road, hundreds of feet from the canal, Meschutt Beach and many homes.

In a recent appearance before the Planning Board, one of the developer’s team players described the site as “pretty remote from anything.” Either he has bent reality far beyond recognition or he is a poor judge of distance.

The same team has spent much time reassuring us that they “think” their batteries are safe. Everyone is particularly worried about the intensity of lithium battery fires and the difficulty in extinguishing them. Then, just this past week, there was an incident in a small BESS facility in East Hampton, which is merely a fraction of the size proposed for us. It was a “smoldering battery” (or batteries?), which caused road closures and the Long Island Rail Road trains to be suspended.

And what of other accidents? That’s the bad thing about accidents: They are not predictable as to size, timing or type. Lightning? Human error? Leak? Flood? Blackout? Coolant failure? Will a 4-foot chain-link fence protect us from vandalism or, God forbid, terrorism? After all, no one will be on the premises.

Then there is the noise. A hum, 24/7. Again, some controversy about what is said about that and what it may be in reality.

The problem is, no one seems to know the answers. They surmise. They predict. They guesstimate.

Our lives and our precious recreational facilities are right there. How can the town even consider allowing this nightmare to be built in a densely populated area?

The people who live here know at least one answer. And that is there is no benefit to our community. None.

Think about that.

Marion Boden

Hampton Bays

The board is scheduled to continue a public hearing on the proposal on June 8 — Ed.