Letters

While we count down to the August end of the battery energy storage system moratorium in Southampton Town, a new BESS debating season kicked off on Earth Day with the initial meeting of the town’s newly appointed BESS Steering Committee.

A snap review: Not as good as it could have been. But very promising.

First, the good stuff: a link was provided for real-time, public scrutiny. Supervisor Maria Moore appeared to set a tone for honest investigation and evaluation. Rather than preconceptions, the panel seems to have brought useful expertise to the subject.

Town Planner Janice Scherer presented maps illustrating BESS siting options in both industrial and residential zones. This was a relief to folks worried that the committee’s real purpose was to provide window dressing for rubber-stamping the proposed Canal BESS site.

On the downside, there was a lot of groping for direction and esoteric discussion of the status of state regulations. The meeting did not appear to have a public or even private agenda. Better staff work should have provided prepublished “purpose of the committee” and “purpose of the meeting” sections, brief bios of panel members, topics to be addressed, citations of reference materials, provision for a summary including next steps, along with a meeting schedule and dates for interim findings and final recommendations.

Initial meetings tend to be gabfests. This was better than most. But the critical nature of the subject suggests a more thorough and disciplined approach, with provision for greater public information, input and feedback.

The scariest note: While discussing the rash of BESS fires in New York State last year, a New York State Energy Research & Development Authority consultant casually posed the chilling question: “Where are we willing to site this particular level of fire hazard?” He went on to discuss how the Underwriters Lab and NYSERDA are working on new requirements and regulations for BESS safety, without mentioning that the systems that blew up had all been approved by and conformed to what Underwriters Lab thought were the highest standards right up to the moment they exploded.

The really good news: As the meeting wrapped up, in a discussion of the need for public comment, Ms. Scherer concluded, “We’re taking all the residential zones out of the equation for now … We know how people feel about megawatt installations in residential zones.”

From her lips to God’s ear. Grid-scale BESS belongs only in industrial zones.

Bill Muir

Hampton Bays