State Rep. Ellen Troxclair has declared victory after East Point Energy canceled their plans for a battery energy storage facility in Comfort.
Catherine Chapman, East Point Energy manager of community engagement wrote to The Boerne Star that East Point Energy’s move was due to “shifting strategic priorities.”
According to the publication, “East Point was planning to build a 250 megawatt battery facility on 10 acres” near a power substation in Comfort, roughly 30 minutes south of Fredericksburg.
Troxclair (R–Lakeway) attributed the win to “a team effort, led by a united community” in a Facebook post.
East Point Energy’s move is “a sign of hope for similar projects that should be reconsidered,” she continued.
Kendall County Commissioner Andra Wisian also celebrated on Facebook, noting the commissioner’s court strengthened safety standards surrounding battery energy storage facilities.
In May of 2024, Kendall County Commissioners unanimously adopted the 2024 International Fire Code, strengthening regulations for energy storage systems in their jurisdiction.
Updated last March, Kendall County published a Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Energy Storage System guide, for the purpose of assisting “the project design team with an overall review of items that are required.”
The guide also includes “information and guidance” from the National Fire Protection Association regarding these battery storage systems, which is “necessary to protect the public in Kendall County from the hazards of fire and panic.”
“We listened carefully to residents about safety concerns,” wrote Wisian. “The Commissioners Court used the legal tools available to put clear safety requirements in place. These actions focused on holding companies accountable to safety standards that protect our residents and first responders.”
East Point Energy did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
