Letters

The Press recently reported that Southampton Town is exploring the use of battery storage systems, or BESS, but concerns about safety — particularly fire hazards — and ignorance about how the system works convinced town leaders to consider a moratorium [“Hampton Bays BESS Plan Sparks Fire Fear, Project Consultants Grilled,” 27east.com, May 1]. Due diligence is indispensable, especially when it comes to safety, and I hope town leaders have their concerns fully answered.

From what I have read, BESS systems are fitted with battery management systems. From a resource guide on battery systems: “The BMS ensures the safety of the battery system. It monitors and measures the condition of the cells and their states, like state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH). Additionally, the BMS keeps the batteries safe from fires and other potential risks.”

If the battery management system “keeps the batteries safe from fires and other potential risks,” what is the issue — poor monitoring, poorly installed systems, or is the technology not sufficient to protect against fires?

I’ve found that the National Fire Protection Association provides a safety fact sheet (ESSFactsheet.ashx) that addresses fire hazards pertaining to BESS systems. The NFPA has established BESS installation standards; they state, “If you are installing ESS for either new construction or a renovation, you should review the requirements of NFPA 855, Standard for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems.”

If the town installs a BESS system under the aegis of NFPA 855, is that sufficient to allay safety concerns? The NFPA is convening a safety conference in June; maybe Southampton decision-makers should attend.

We have learned that fool-proofing energy supply is difficult. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and the Fukushima Japan nuclear plant meltdown brought to light safety concerns related to nuclear power. The Exxon Valdez oil spill and the DeepWater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico are archetypes of the ecological damage that fossil fuel extraction and transport can cause.

The imperative of addressing climate change, which includes maximizing clean energy use, means that we need to utilize tools like BESS. I hope the safety concerns are addressed for all the stakeholders in Southampton Town.

I hope The Southampton Press stays on top of this issue, too.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

Anthony is a former chair of the Southampton Town Democratic Committee — Ed.