VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas — A proposed lithium-ion battery storage facility in Van Zandt County is raising serious concerns among local residents and first responders. Set to be located in the Whitton area, the facility's safety and environmental risks have sparked significant unease.
Resident Richard Dwelling, who lives just half a mile from the proposed site, expressed his worries directly. "We're not allowed to build on it, walk on it, drill on it, and now we’re going to build on it. It seems like a problem," he stated, alluding to the proximity of the planned facility over existing pipelines.
This facility, expected to store lithium batteries—similar to those used for electric vehicles—aims to provide emergency power back-ups during grid failures. The project's estimated cost is around $90 million, with construction anticipated to commence by January 2025 and wrapping up by December of the same year.
Karen Gonzales, another concerned resident, voiced her fears about the impact on future generations. "This affects my kids, my grandkids, and myself and a million other people who live here and are not ready to give up land to a dangerous situation."
Concerns are not just limited to residents, but extend to local first responders, too. David Birdsong, Deputy Chief of the South Van Zandt Volunteer Fire Department, sees alarming potential environmental hazards. He cautioned against the heavy metals contained within the batteries, along with the fire risks these batteries pose. “How do you expect us to handle a thermal runaway? If there's a release and this thing catches fire, we don't have the resources to manage these things appropriately. That’s a huge concern,” Birdsong said.
The fear of thermal runaway—a catastrophic failure mode where batteries can overheat and potentially explode—was echoed by another resident, David Kidd. He fears for his family's safety, noting, “Being part of the volunteer fire department, if there’s something going wrong, we might not be able to respond swiftly, putting many homes at risk.”
Besides potential fires, contamination poses another pressing danger. Birdsong elaborated on his worries: “Imagine scattering those batteries across the area; you could end up with hazardous waste sites impacting the environment severely.” The thought of transforming their peaceful rural setting, ideal for raising kids and livestock, to possibly becoming a cleanup site for federal or state regulations looms ominously over these community members.
The project is backed by REZ Group, with battery systems supplied by Fluence, both of which have ties to international energy markets—REZ is part of Taaleri Energia, based out of Finland. Nonetheless, local residents remain skeptical and demand comprehensive safety measures and transparency from the company before any construction begins.
Community organizer David Dunagan, who helped put together the recent forum, shared similar sentiments about the energy project. "Everyone has the same concerns with the fire hazard, and the hazardous gas with the pipeline,” he said, adding, “They are the ones who are going to be evacuated—my neighbors and friends. It’s scary for us, not just because of the proximity but because we don’t know what could happen.”
With the planned groundbreaking for the lithium storage facility looming, residents are hopeful for intervention. Dunagan proposed adopting international fire codes as means to enforce safety measures, ensuring local fire marshals could properly inspect and regulate operations at the facility.
Groundbreaking is slated for the late December to early January timeframe, with completion expected to follow within 12 months. Despite the ticking clock, the resident outcry and fire department concerns might shape the future of this contentious project. The community insists on maintaining their lifestyle free from looming environmental threats, echoing sentiments of the issues faced as the world transitions to sustainability, often at the potential expense of community safety.
Local residents and officials continue to voice their opinions, firmly urging greater scrutiny before such large-scale projects disrupt their neighborhood and lives. Their fight may reflect broader national struggles around safety regulations and community rights amid the push for renewable energy sources.
