Residents voice opposition to proposed NineDot Energy battery facility near homes and schools

A proposed battery energy storage facility near Brooklyn’s Eighth Avenue Chinatown is drawing mounting concern from residents worried about possible safety risks.

At a recent community forum hosted by State Sen. Steve Chan and Assemblymember Lester Chang, dozens of residents gathered to learn more about a Battery Energy Storage System, or BESS, that energy company NineDot Energy plans to build near the neighborhood. Many attendees voiced strong opposition to the project.

Project could begin as early as summer

According to information shared at the meeting, the company plans to build a battery storage facility at 924 64th St. The project would occupy about 3,232 square feet and provide nearly 5 megawatts of power capacity.

Such facilities are designed to help balance electricity supply and demand. During periods of lower demand, such as late at night, the batteries can store electricity from the grid. That power can then be discharged back into the grid during the day or whenever demand rises.

The project is expected to support about 4,900 households during peak electricity use, along with 33 kilowatts of solar equipment. Based on the currently known plan, an office belonging to a small auto repair business at the rear of the site is expected to be demolished this spring, and construction on the storage facility could begin as early as this summer.

Chan said he only learned about the project after the developer reached out to request a meeting.

“This plan will have a serious impact on the community, so we felt it was necessary to share with residents the information we learned in that meeting,” Chan said.

Site near schools and homes fuels safety concerns

Chan’s office said the proposed site is located in an M1-1 zoning district, an industrial and mixed-use zone where this type of development is allowed as of right, meaning it does not require additional discretionary approvals. The developer already has work permits, according to the office.

At the same time, the site is near residential areas and sits only a short distance from P.S. 69 and P.S. 310.

Chan said New York state is pushing a broad energy transition toward electrification and cleaner power. While the goal may be positive, he said battery storage technology still carries significant safety risks.

He pointed to an upstate battery storage facility that caught fire multiple times as an example. He said the batteries used in this kind of project rely on technology similar to Tesla battery systems, which can release large amounts of toxic gas during a fire and can be extremely difficult to extinguish. Fire officials, he added, have said it can take 40,000 to 50,000 gallons of water to cool such a blaze.

Asked whether the developer had offered any specific safety guarantees, Chan said, “No, they just said they believe in Tesla.”

The meeting also gave lawmakers a clearer sense of local opinion. Many Chinese residents who live near the site attended and said they would strongly oppose the project.

One Chinese resident said this would already be the second battery storage proposal aimed at a Brooklyn Chinese neighborhood.

“If this project really has so many benefits, and if it can truly be made completely safe, then why not speak with the community from the beginning?” the resident said. “Handling it this way only makes us more worried.”

Residents oppose plan, focus on next steps

Chan said his office is reviewing application materials the developer submitted to the city Department of Buildings to better understand what has been filed and how the project is progressing.

He also noted that he previously introduced State Senate bill S7710, which would prohibit energy storage facilities from being built in New York City residential areas or within 500 feet of schools. The bill remains under review.

Chang has introduced a similar proposal in the State Assembly. He said he wants to add language expanding the definition of “energy storage system” to include all materials capable of storing electricity and feeding it into the grid, not just lithium batteries, in order to avoid future regulatory loopholes. He also said distance limits should apply not only to homes and schools, but also to transportation corridors and large public gathering places.

Chan said he plans to bring residents’ concerns directly to the developer at their next meeting.

“I will tell them this will not be an easy fight,” he said. “We are not going to sit by and do nothing.”

The lawmakers also urged residents to keep sharing their views with their offices.

“Your input will help guide our next steps,” they said.