A proposed 169-watt megawatt energy storage project was proposed months back to be placed in the Town of Montgomery. The conversation continues.

At a Montgomery Industrial Development Board (IDA) meeting on Wednesday, November 9, a public hearing was opened for the project, as well as updates from Key Capture Energy. Key Capture Energy (KCE) is a group founded in 2016 that creates large-scale renewable energy projects, as well as operating the largest battery storage project in New York State. They hope to add the Town of Montgomery to their list.

The project, which will cover 8.03 acres of space to hold battery storage units, is proposed to be built north of 17K, in between Stone Castle and Browns Road.

KCE Senior Manager of Development Mike Carella and Young/Sommer LLC Partner and Attorney Robert A. Panasci gave more detail about the project at the meeting. Panasci specializes in energy and natural resources.

The updated project’s application provides a description of the battery project. “Key Capture Energy proposes to develop a utility scale battery storage facility to respond to intermittent grid fluctuations and to enhance power grid reliability by providing ancillary services to the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO),” the description reads.

Panasci added some additional information about electricity usage. “It does not generate electricity, but will take in energy during the off hours and then it will push that energy out when it’s needed for peak performance,” said Panasci.

Panasci further explained some of the updates to the project. He noted that KCE met with the planning board to discuss the project a week prior, as well as submitting an application to the zoning board to fix some height restrictions. On top of this, they also will submit a community agreement with the town.

One of the agreements between the town and KCE is tax exemption. Walden resident Elizabeth Case spoke to the board about her concerns with this.

“I’m just thinking that they need to pay their fair share. I pay my fair share, and everybody else in the room who are residents of the Town of Montgomery pay their fair share,” said Case.

IDA Chairman Jeffrey D. Crist responded, stating that the IDA in the state of New York is authorized to do this.

“[We are] authorized to provide these abatements as an avenue to encourage a company such as Key Capture to come to town, and we’re gonna be evaluated and then we’re required to do so by state regulation,” said Crist.

Lynette Wright, property owner of 364 Browns Road participated to ensure that the address of the project was changed on every application. Public notices and different applications originally had her property listed as the said project’s desired address. Since then an address clarification letter has been released and Panasci noted all applications are now updated.

Wright also stated concerns with containers being placed on her front yard as well as watershed issues. There was no direct answer for this.

Other public comments included John Olson, who owns the property, along with his wife Marybeth Olson, where the facility will be built. “I think this is a good project,” said John Olson.

Carella also makes a note about the safety of the batteries that will be at the facility. “The batteries are very similar, if not the same as what some of you might have driven here with underneath your car. Most of us have it in our pocket or on the table in front of us. The lithium ion batteries are a very omnipresent technology in all types of consumer electronics,” said Carella. “They’re proven to be safe.”

KCE is known for their renewable energy projects through energy storage and solar storage projects. Renewable energy is naturally sourced energy that is replenished faster than consumption, and is known to create less emissions than fossil fuels. It is now widely used and has become cheaper to use, according to the United Nations Climate Action.

The public hearing for the battery storage facility will be reopened at their Dec. 13 meeting at 1 p.m.