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An information session is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, at 5:30 p.m. at the Town Hall in Ulster, regarding a proposed lithium-ion battery plant by BayWa r.e. The company plans to build the facility on Frank Sottile Boulevard, aiming to store 150 megawatts of electricity.
The project, named the Lincoln Park Energy Storage Project, will involve 30 containment units, each capable of storing about five megawatts of electricity. These units will recharge using electricity from the grid during off-peak hours, controlled by Central Hudson to meet peak demand or during power outages.
BayWa r.e. is keen to avoid the environmental impact issues that plagued a similar proposal by Terra-Gen, which sought to build a 250-megawatt facility in the area. BayWa spokesman Will Callaway emphasized the importance of a negative environmental declaration to prevent project delays.
The proposed site is adjacent to the Ulster County solar array and near several residential areas, including the Rondout Gardens apartment complex. BayWa has prioritized community safety by implementing advanced fire safety systems and partnering with the Energy Safety Response group for hazard mitigation assessments.
Town Supervisor James Quigley has expressed the town's intent to learn from the Terra-Gen project's challenges, ensuring thorough evaluation and community protection.