Officials Slam Decision On Middle Village Battery Facility

By MOHAMED FARGHALY

mfarghaly@queensledger.com

NineDot Energy announced Monday it will proceed with its proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility in Middle Village, rejecting alternative sites put forward by local leaders and drawing swift backlash from a coalition of elected officials who said they were “seriously disappointed” by the decision.

The announcement comes less than two weeks after residents and lawmakers rallied on Feb. 26 outside the proposed site at 64-30 69th Place, directly across from P.S. 128 and near a daycare, preschool and animal hospital.

In a joint statement, Council Member Phil Wong, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr., Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi, along with the Juniper Park Civic Association, the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce and the United Federation of Teachers, said they had worked with the company to identify a different location for the project.

“Our coalition is seriously disappointed with the decision by NineDot to move forward with this location,” the group said in the statement. “We engaged NineDot in good faith and supported what we believe was a reasonable alternative that would have addressed the concerns of residents while still allowing this type of infrastructure to move forward in a more appropriate location.”

The coalition added that it does not believe the alternative proposal “was legitimately considered.”

“From the beginning, our goal has been to work collaboratively and find a solution that balances energy needs with the safety and quality of life of the surrounding community,” the statement said. “We stand with the residents of Middle Village, the Juniper Park Civic Association, the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce, and the many local stakeholders who have raised serious concerns about placing this facility at the currently proposed site.”

“I appreciate our local officials standing with the community, but statements alone are not enough,” Paul Pogozelski, President of the Middle Village Property Owners and Residents Association said. “This situation demanded transparent, proactive leadership – legislation that would have stopped tone-deaf corporations and lobbyists from placing a lithium battery facility across from a school. Our community must unite, reach out to the full coalition of officials and union leaders, and demand that Ninedot address our concerns now. This is about protecting our neighborhoods and kids.”

NineDot Energy said it evaluated the proposed alternative locations but determined they were not viable.

According to Yanni Trittas, senior vice president at Constantinople & Vallone Consulting, which represents the company, NineDot informed Wong that it would proceed with the original site after conducting due diligence.

“After conducting due diligence on the alternative sites proposed, we notified Council Member Wong that NineDot is proceeding with the project at the current location,” Trittas said in an email. “NineDot drafted a letter explaining why those alternative sites presented insurmountable challenges.”

Trittas said those challenges included several factors beyond the company’s control, including Con Edison interconnection policies, the possibility that some sites were located in flood plains and the need to demolish existing housing.

“While we know the result may not be what all community stakeholders wanted, NineDot remains committed to being a good neighbor and continuing to engage the local community,” they said. “Energy storage is safe, and the FDNY’s world-leading standards ensure its appropriate deployment.”

Battery energy storage systems store electricity for later use and are considered a key part of New York’s transition to renewable energy. Still, the proposed location in Middle Village has drawn sustained opposition from residents and local leaders who argue that placing the facility near a school and other community institutions is inappropriate for the neighborhood.

Local officials say they will continue pushing for a different outcome as community concerns persist.