New Yorkers fight against large e-battery storage plants | 7 On Your Side Investigates

NEW YORK (WABC) -- We've seen how an e-battery can catch fire and explode in a matter of seconds. That's from a single battery on an electric bike or scooter.

People living in some neighborhoods are now worried about what could happen with hundreds of lithium-ion batteries that are being stored in metal containers near their homes and businesses.

They're called Battery Energy Storage Systems or BESS plants. Power companies are filling metal containers the size of tractor trailers with e-batteries to help supplement the power grid. The batteries store energy and release the energy back to the grid during peak hours.

There are more than 6,000 facilities in New York alone.

Multiple BESS plants are currently under construction in Staten Island, including one on Nelson Avenue The site used to be a home office. It was demolished and replaced with metal containers full of e-batteries and it's located between homes and a gas station.

"I think it's disgraceful and I think it's dangerous," said Christina D'Angelis who lives nearby.

"That is a danger in a nice residential neighborhood with a school around the block, people all over and a gas station next door that can explode the entire neighborhood and I can't believe they got it improved," said D'Angelis.

Some battery plants have caught fire before. From a large fire in California earlier this year, to multiple fires in New York including one upstate in Jefferson County to another in Orange County in 2023. They burned on and off for days.

"Imagine if this happens in the middle of the night where we're all sleeping," said Thomas Oriol who works near one in Staten Island.

By 2030, New York wants to increase the amount of energy it stores from 359 all the way up to 6,000 megawatts. That would be enough energy to power all of New York City for a day.

"It's an absolutely critical source of meeting our electric needs," said Kyle Rabin of Alliance for Clean Energy New York.

Supporters say the batteries used for energy storage have stricter regulations than those consumers can buy from a store.

And the state recently revised its fire and building code to regulate battery plants.

"I think people would feel very comfortable with this technology, they are some of the best fire codes standards in the country," said Rabin.

The new code requires each site to have large scale fire testing to help ensure a fire is contained to its metal enclosure. They also have to have a gas detection system, and a hazmat team on standby in case of an emergency amongst other revisions.

"The systems are no longer set and forget, they're set and maintain," said Paul Rogers, a former firefighter who now works for Energy Safety Response Group.

The new state code allows plants to be built 10 feet away from another property.

That's too close for comfort for some people.

Supporters of the new energy technology say that's a minimum distance and local communities can decide whether to change local laws to increase the distance.

That's what the Staten Island Borough President says he's fighting for.

"Accidents can happen, they have happened and we just want to prevent that from happening here this time," said Vito Fossella, Staten Island Borough President. "We're standing in front of a recipe for disaster and an accident waiting to happen."

The FDNY released the following statement in regards to the energy storage systems:

"Let's be clear, keeping New Yorkers and our first responders safe will always be our top priority - it's what the brave men and women of the FDNY do every single day. At the same time, we are committed to a greener, more sustainable future for all. That's why our fire code for energy storage systems is widely regarded as one of the most robust and strongest in the country - it's considered a national benchmark for safety. We test facilities, enforce standards, and prepare for any potential emergencies like no other city, making our regulations the best fire code for energy storage in the nation."

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