Wendell faces a David vs. Goliath battle. New Leaf Energy, a spinoff of Borrego Energy, plans to build a battery energy storage system near the center of town of a size more suitable for an industrially zoned site than on 50 forested acres — 11 acres to be clear-cut for the project.

Its 780 large lithium-ion batteries would take power off nearby power lines and store it for release during peak demand. The dangers associated with both construction and operation of such a massive (105 megawatt) facility pose a threat to a rural community whose forests and fields are part of the climate change solution.

In response, Wendell residents organized the No Assault & Batteries citizens group to stop the project. One effort was to draw up a comprehensive general bylaw for the town with measures to protect health and safety, some of these described by Recorder reporter Dominic Poli in his March 7 article [“Energy storage facility opponents pitch bylaw”].

We were pleased that at its March 6 meeting, our Select Board decided to work on our bylaw with the town lawyer with the goal of making it acceptable for state review, a problem in the past. We look forward to having the bylaw come before our town at a special Town Meeting soon.

Meanwhile, the fight for local control over inappropriate and dangerous projects is heating up on the state level. Current legislation would override local control over the siting and permitting of such projects, and a new governor’s Commission on Energy Infrastructure Siting and Permitting could take back local decision-making. The public has until Friday, March 15 to comment on this.

Find out more and oppose state takeover here: actionnetwork.org/letters/send-a-letter-to-the-governors-commission-on-energy-infrastructure-siting-and-permitting/. 

Laurel Facey

Wendell