Lithium Battery Storage Facility Proposed In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A lithium battery storage facility is being proposed to be built in Bridgewater.

Rockland APV Bridgewater Energy LLC presented their application to the Township Zoning Board of Adjustment on Tuesday proposing to build a new battery energy storage system facility in the Finderne section of Bridgewater.

The property, at the corner of East Main Street and Polhemus Lane, is owned by Somerset County Improvement Authority (“SCIA”) and is currently used by the County as a maintenance yard.

The Applicant has an agreement with SCIA to lease a portion of the property.

The application is seeking preliminary and final major site plan and minor subdivision approval, with variance relief, to subdivide the property into two new lots and construct on one of the subdivided lots a new battery energy storage system (“BESS”) facility, which will include BESS unit batteries, a control structure and related site improvements.

Concerns were raised by a resident at the previous Feb. 5 Council meeting and also by the Zoning Board Chairman John Kulak at the Tuesday meeting.

Township Administrator called the application "a pretty significant, unusual, unique case," at the Feb. 5 council meeting.

Manville Boulevard resident Samantha Ally noted that the area already floods without the need of heavy rain.

"We've seen that time and time again. When these types of facilities flood it creates serious problems when it comes to fire danger and also the hazards that come along with that," said Ally. "Finderne is already dealing with the soil problem from American Cyanamid. What more do we really need to be dealing with in Finderne?"

At the Tuesday Zoning meeting, Kulak noted that the Board is "looking down the road at potential liabilities" by being location so close to American Cyanamid.

"You're adjacent to one of the largest Superfund sites in the country, one that's been responsibly remediated and will continue to be, but will probably last another 30 years in remediation. That concerns us, as does your property as well, should something happen," said Kulak.

Attorney for the applicant Glenn Pantel said that the owner operator of this facility would be "responsible for environmental issues arising from our operations."

The hearing was ultimately carried to the April 14 Zoning Board meeting at 7 p.m.

To see the full application, click here.

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