When our safety is at stake, we need to speak up and put the brakes on dangerous initiatives.

The residents of Holtsville, Holbrook and surrounding areas are deeply concerned and opposed to the proposed Holtsville Energy Storage Facility (Battery Energy Storage System) project on Morris Ave. This would be one of the largest facilities in the U.S. consisting of 110-megawatts, with 124 lithium-ion battery containers.

Consider the following:

• This does not belong in any residential area or near schools. This facility is proposed to sit within less than a one mile radius of (9) NINE school buildings as well as homes and businesses.
• BESS lithium battery facilities are known to have fire, explosion, and toxicity risks (according to NYSERDA).
• There is an increase in incidents with Li-ion Battery energy storage facilities. 7 Fires in since May 31, 2023 (4 Fires in NY alone).
• Increased danger to our volunteer fire departments.
• In the event of shelter in place, students would be displaced, which has proven to have many adverse effects. How does this affect the residents quality of life?
• In the event of fire, evacuation would be impossible. In the event of fire, will runoff leach into our water supply?
• What effect will toxins have on residents in the event of fire? No long term impacts haven’t been studied because this is new technology!
• There is no way to put out the fire, it must burn!! What if it spreads?
• Once a BESS is installed in a residential community, the precedent is set; a BESS can be installed in any residential area.
• Increased utility costs to residents.
• There is a lack of expertise, allowing approvals for installations like this within residential communities, without proper due diligence or community involvement.
• Finding better energy solutions is imperative, but not if it compromises or threatens the residents and ecosystem of the towns of Islip and Brookhaven!
• Any risk to our safety is an unacceptable risk!

Please join me in signing this petition so we can protect our community’s safety and preserve our precious environment for generations to come.

FROM THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN'S WEBSITE:

Office of Emergency Management: The town of Brookhaven is the largest municipality in Suffolk County and the largest town in New York State. ... The Town of Brookhaven's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is the direct result of the Town's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of each of its residents.

The TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN owes its residents the assurance that BROOKHAVEN will protect their safety and the safety of our environment by denying project proposals which are capable of causing tremendous disasters in areas where people are living and children are attending school every single day. The town has not shown anything to its residents to assure them that Brookhaven and the local fire departments are able to contain a disaster should it occur. With these types of disasters occurring more and more as BESS facilities are installed throughout the country, it is time to SLOW DOWN. The community will be holding local meetings regarding this project proposal and we encourage our local town leaders and decision makers to attend these meetings as well to let your constituents know that you are looking to make informed decisions for them.

The undersigned petition the town of Brookhaven to DENY THE PERMIT requested by Holtsville Energy Storage LLC to begin installation of the battery energy storage facility proposed to be installed at Morris Avenue and the LIE in Holtsville, directly in the middle of a residential community and within a mile or less of NINE schools.