Carson Power proposes new facility in Saranac Lake

BLOOMINGDALE | After last week's presentation by Carson Power, an energy company proposing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Trudeau Road, the Town of St. Armand passed a resolution introducing a one-year moratorium on battery energy storage facilities. "The town board [did this] so that we can ensure we are taking the time to hear if our residents want us to allow them in St. Armand, what the ramifications or benefits of this might be," said Town of St. Armand Supervisor Davina Thurston. "[This will] allow us time to adopt a building permit for these facilities, if approved, and a local law regarding what rules and regulations we may need if they are approved." Currently, Carson Power, an energy infrastructure developer based in New York, N.Y., is proposing the facility on private property next to the National Grid substation near the Mount Pisgah Ski Area, right on the Village of Saranac Lake and Town of Harrietstown property lines. The energy company chose the North Country due to its unique grid characteristics — from its long transmission lines and limited redundancy to higher winter reliability concerns and seasonal tourism load swings, according to the presentation. "Bottom line: localized energy storage improves resilience in rural communities where outages can have greater impacts." Once installed, BESS will charge during low-demand periods and discharge during peak-demand periods. The battery system will operate automatically, but still be monitored 24/7. Not only will it help support voltage stability, but it will also help reduce strain on transmission lines and help prevent emergency peak events. "Energy storage is a smart and reliable technology that helps modernize New York's electric grid, helping to make the grid more flexible, efficient, and resilient," according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. "With thousands of energy storage sites already in place across the state, this exciting technology is playing an important role in making sure New York has affordable energy." Within the presentation, Carson Power listed a number of myths and facts about BESS. For instance, according to the energy company, these systems don't easily catch fire. In fact, fires are rare and declining due to improved design, testing, and modern safety standards. However, some members of the town board are still apprehensive about this new addition and potential future ones. "This is the first company that is interested in a battery energy storage facility in Essex County," Thurston said. "This is new technology with new concerns, [and] we want to make sure we are educating ourselves and our residents about this project and take into account all of the pros and cons." A public hearing regarding the one-year moratorium is scheduled for March 17 at 5:30 p.m., with the regular board meeting to follow at 6:30 p.m. The Town of St. Armand has created a tab on its website titled "Battery Energy Storage Facility," where anyone interested in learning more can find more information. Information will be added once it's received. Those who have questions, comments, or concerns are encouraged to attend the meeting. For more information, visit townofstarmandny.gov.

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Carson Power proposes new facility in Saranac Lake

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