The site identified for the battery energy storage system by NineDot Energy is at 64-30 69th Place in Middle Village, directly next to the Juniper Valley Animal Hospital and across the street from P.S. 128.
Emily Smith
Middle Village could see another storage system for lithium-ion battery energy, but local officials are unclear as to where the facility will be located and when construction is expected to begin.
City Council Member Phil Wong told residents of his district that a battery energy storage facility could be coming directly across the street from a local elementary school but he said he’s suggested other sites in industrial areas. One thing is clear: it’s happening soon.
“They are going to start construction in a month,” said Walter Sanchez, chairperson for Queens Community Board 5, at last Wednesday’s board meeting, citing a call he received from the energy company a week prior.
He asked the energy company whether they had met with Wong — to which they said that they did in December, privately informing him that the project would be moving forward, to which Wong and his office denied.
NineDot Energy, a company who’s built battery storage facilities across the city, started the process to build in Middle Village last April. They’re just one of the many companies planting these shipping container-like storage buildings in various city neighborhoods. According to government data, there are currently 20 facilities operating in Queens and 83 city-wide.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) says that the facilities capture and hold energy for later use, increasing New York’s renewable energy capabilities.
But, some residents worry that they’re noisy and potentially dangerous. They can emit a constant hum and a battery storage site in Warwick, New York was ignited in December with the flame lasting for over three days, as battery fires are very difficult to extinguish.
NineDot Energy’s Chief Marketing Officer Karen Alter said that the FDNY’s safety standards prevent similar fires. “Those sites use technology and designs that simply would not be allowed in New York City,” she said. Since these facilities were first introduced to New York City in 2019, there haven’t been any fire safety incidents reported. Still many community members say the issue lies with the chosen site.
“The area that they’re looking to put it into is just tone deaf,” said Paul Pogozelski, President of the Middle Village Property and Residents Association. “It’s right across the street from the school and it’s in a residential area.”
P.S. 128, The Lorraine Tuzzo, Juniper Valley Elementary School, stands directly across the street.
Gary Giordano, the district manager for Queens Community Board 5, said he too is most concerned about the location of the site. “The risks may not be great of a fire,” he said. “But, they exist and that is not a good choice of place to put that sort of facility.”
Giordano added that NineDot has let the vacant lot become an “eyesore,” in the meantime.
Alter said NineDot has been in communication with local officials, including Wong and the community board chairperson, for over a year, “to answer questions and provide accurate information about energy storage.” Sanchez, board chairperson, said he had not communicated with NineDot until he received the call informing him that they would be moving forward with construction.
Wong’s office said they were disappointed with NineDot’s lack of communication with the Council Member.
“They never told us they were moving forward with it,” said Wong’s chief of staff, Daniel Kurzyna. Kurzyna said that Wong’s office learned that NineDot was moving forward with construction after Sanchez called P.S. 128, and someone associated with the school told Wong’s office.
Kurzyna also added that Wong isn’t completely against a battery storage facility in his district.
“We’re not opposed to the technology, we think it’s actually very, very good technology and it is necessary,” said Kurzyna. “We can’t have it literally across from a school. We can’t have it next door to an animal hospital, a daycare center and the children’s fun house.” He said business owners from all locations are worried that the facility will hurt them.
Wong said he was in negotiations with NineDot over moving the proposed facility to a more industrial area.
“We have someone in the community who’s willing to put up his own money, buy that property, and then, give them an alternate location that he owns not too far away,” said Kurzyna. “It’s a perfect location.” He said that Wong’s office reached out to the lobbyist representing NineDot with this idea and at least three more alternative locations, but he did not specify the addresses of those locations.
NineDot declined to comment on the date construction is planned to begin, but Wong is scheduled to meet with NineDot on February 19th. “I hope they come to us and say, this is a great offer,” Kurzyna said.
