Gillespie County has temporarily blocked construction of a battery energy storage system after a district court hearing yesterday. The facility was to be located less than 2,000 feet from a school and less than 100 feet from the Pedernales River, raising safety and environmental concerns about fire hazards and fire extinguishing methods.
Judge Albert Patillo of the 216th District Court ordered Rogers Draw, the battery energy storage system for Peregrine Energy Solutions, to halt all construction activities for the project at the property located in Harper until a final judgement is reached for the lawsuit.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) hold excess power generation that cannot go to the grid. BESS are notoriously dangerous, inciting action by Gillespie County.
Gillespie County commissioners passed a resolution opposing the BESS project in February of last year, citing various dangers posed by the battery system. Due to the unique nature of BESS fires, the resolution explains, it makes “them extremely difficult to extinguish and can cause explosions, toxic gas release, physical damage, and loss of life, posing significant risks to property, the environment, and human safety.”
Following the passage of the resolution, Gillespie County filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit in November against the project plan on behalf of county residents.
Hearings were held Tuesday and Wednesday of this week that ultimately led to the court order to halt all construction on the BESS site.
The lawsuit is still in the briefing stages, and the next hearing date has not been set.
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