Nassau County Govt Bruce Blakeman has proposed a statewide halt on “poisonous” battery storage services, blasting Gov. Kathy Hochul for pushing the harmful enlargement of such websites.
Blakeman, a Republican candidate for governor, cited final week’s poisonous lithium-ion-battery storage fireplace in Warwick, the second blaze on the plant since 2023 and a part of a hard nationwide pattern.
Battery storage methods allow power from renewable sources such because the solar and wind to be stored after which launched when the facility is required most.
Blakeman stated the services are a hazardous a part of Hochul’s and the Democrats’ green-energy rip-off.
“Governor Hochul is placing New Yorkers in peril,” he stated in an announcement to The Publish.
“These fires present that her battery storage mandates are unsafe for firefighters, EMS, and households.”
“Lithium-ion battery fires can escalate shortly, launch poisonous chemical compounds into the air, resist conventional firefighting strategies, and place excessive calls for on emergency personnel — particularly when water, a normal firefighting instrument, could make the blaze worse.
“Earlier than we permit any new services, we should guarantee our first responders are absolutely skilled, geared up, and ready to deal with not solely the hearth dangers but in addition the poisonous chemical compounds and well being hazards these battery fires can launch into our communities. There should be a statewide moratorium till these methods can function safely.”
The Empire State is aggressively increasing its battery storage methods to satisfy formidable objectives to scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions by 40% by 2030 and obtain 100% zero-carbon-emission electrical energy by 2040 underneath the the Local weather Management and Neighborhood Safety Act of 2019.
Since 2019, New York has permitted greater than 6,000 battery storage tasks creating 440 megawatts of capability, with storage for 1.3 gigawatts already underneath contract and a acknowledged purpose of extra to deal with six gigawatts by 2030, based on the US Environmental Safety Company.
Blakeman emerged because the presumptive GOP nominee for governor to tackle Democratic incumbent Hochul after upstate Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik abruptly ended her marketing campaign.
President Trump endorsed Blakeman’s candidacy Saturday.
Rising utility prices and fossil-fuel-free power mandates have emerged as burning points for state voters.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, a battery-storage opponent, applauded Blakeman for his stance. He stated there’s one facility in his borough subsequent to a gasoline station and houses.
“How would you prefer to dwell subsequent to a unit like this that catches fireplace?” Fossella stated.
However Hochul’s workplace defended the siting of the battery-storage services, noting New York lately enacted stringent laws for them.
“Security is the highest precedence for Governor Hochul which is why underneath her path, New York lately enacted among the many most stringent battery power storage laws within the nation that has gained assist from quite a few fireplace security officers and specialists,” stated Ken Lovett, the governor’s senior communications advisor on power and the surroundings, in an announcement.
“As we take care of potential power shortages as quickly as subsequent 12 months, it’s crucial that we benefit from each alternative so as to add energy to our grid whereas making certain we do it safely, effectively, and affordably,” he stated.
“Whereas different states are quickly investing in storage to stabilize their grids and decrease prices, doing nothing dangers leaving New York’s economic system behind and forcing New Yorkers to pay.”
Blakeman additionally opposes offshore wind tasks that depend on large-scale battery storage.
Trump simply paused 5 offshore wind-farm tasks, together with two off the coast of Lengthy Island, citing nationwide safety considerations.
“New York mustn’t rush into offshore wind mandates till these battery methods are confirmed protected, our oceans are protected, and taxpayers aren’t left footing the invoice,” Blakeman stated.
However Hochul’s rep stated Blakeman’s marketing campaign towards wind and power storage is shortsighted.
“Blakeman’s opposition to wind tasks may value Lengthy Island and downstate greater than 2,600 good-paying union jobs and wanted energy to assist keep away from potential power shortages as quickly as subsequent 12 months,” Lovett stated.
“Governor Hochul’s all-of-the-above method is supposed to make sure there’s sufficient energy to maintain the lights on and charges down.”
