Hampton leaders narrowly approve battery storage facility; safety remains a concern
A 29-megawatt battery storage facility is expected to come to Hampton next year, but some members of the City Council have concerns about the safety of the operation.
City Council voted 4-3 Wednesday to approve a use permit application for the facility, which stores electrical power in large lithium-ion battery cells and will be located at 3201 Commander Shepard Blvd. in the Langley Research and Development Park.
The project, from Arlington-based Delorean Power, allows generated power ]to be stored for later use in the electrical grid. The company has already entered a 15-yearslong power purchase agreement with Dominion Energy, which plans to use the installation in its energy grid. Ricky Elder, Delorean Power’s director of development, previously said the project has a lifespan of at least 20 years.
Council members Chris Bowman, Steven Brown and Billy Hobbs voted against it, all citing safety and environmental concerns.
Hobbs noted after the meeting that fires at two separate lithium-ion battery energy storage sites in Warwick, New York burned for more than a week this summer following a storm-related issue. In September, a Tesla battery pack caught fire at a California facility and caused part of the state’s Highway 1 to shut down temporarily.
Hobbs said he was concerned about the potential for fires and explosions on the site and noted its proximity to the NASA Langley Research Center, located only 1 mile away.
“Something in my gut tells me we’re not ready to handle the crisis,” he said.
The city’s fire department has indicated to city officials that department leadership is confident in their ability to mitigate any possible emergency at the proposed facility.
“The Fire Department’s thoughts on this project are that while there are risks, they are manageable,” wrote Chief Planner Donald Whipple in a memo sent to council about the project last month. “One of the most important factors in an energy storage system is the ability to cool down the components. Hampton Fire is committed to ensure that an adequate water supply is in place for the area.”
Brown said he was “very concerned” about a lack of regulation. City Council was told at the meeting that the site would be inspected by an employee of Delorean Power or a contractor they contract with. Brown felt uncomfortable that it wasn’t an external inspector with no ties to the company.
Councilwoman Hope Harper asked Delorean representatives in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting if the project was “environmentally friendly.” Elder responded by saying that “We believe it is environmentally friendly; that obviously is a very subjective term.”
Delorean Power Chief Technology Officer Joseph Leavitt previously said battery management system helps prevent the batteries from getting overcharged or reaching excessive temperatures, which can both lead to fires. Additionally, he said the site does not require any special equipment from fire departments that might help to contain a blaze.
Councilwoman Hope Harper asked if the project was “environmentally friendly.” Elder said, “We believe it is environmentally friendly; that obviously is a very subjective term.”
Michael Herbert, Delorean co-founder and managing partner, previously said he hopes to have the site operational by the end of 2024.
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com.
