Developer pitches battery storage facility to wary Grove residents

JAMES CITY COUNTY – Representatives from a Nebraska-based development firm hosted an event on Tuesday in hopes of convincing Grove residents to support a major proposed battery storage facility.

Tenaska Energy subsidiary Pelican Energy Storage is applying for a special use permit to build a battery energy storage facility on a sprawling, 220-acre waterfront site in James City County that was once home to the now-shuttered BASF chemical plant.

Held at the Abram Frink Jr. Community Center, the event drew dozens of local residents who wanted to hear about the plans for the site, ask questions and air their concerns.

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are large banks of batteries connected to the electric grid for the purpose of generating additional energy.

When the grid has excess power, the batteries draw in unused energy and maintain it in reserve. During times of high energy demand, the site can discharge that stored energy back into the grid to enhance its stability and meet energy needs.

Tenaska community relations manager Jamie Wagner said the 650-megawatt facility would enhance the local energy infrastructure while boosting the area’s economy.

According to the developer, BESS facilities are becoming increasingly beneficial as data centers continue to expand throughout the Commonwealth, resulting in intense electricity demands.

“The Pelican Energy Storage project is under development in response to Virginia’s growing energy crisis,” a promotional board for the project stated. “Demand for electricity is expected to double in the next decade, but the Commonwealth already can’t produce enough power to meet its own energy needs.”

Concerns persist: Many Grove residents expressed worries about potentially negative environmental impacts and safety risks.

Several attendees told The Triangle they are disheartened by the area’s loss of river access amid ongoing industrial development efforts. The James River was once considered a significant attribute of the community and was commonly used by residents for recreational purposes, they said.

Advocates also said local policies have failed to prioritize their interests for decades, focusing instead on revenue generation.

“I live in this community, and I’m looking at the environmental effects that this could have,” Grove resident George Buskey said. “It’s not that I’m trying to stop this big corporation from coming here. I’m concerned.”

The developer acknowledged that BESS installations can pose a fire risk but said the likelihood of a fire was low given advanced monitoring and safety protocols.

According to Wagner, the riverfront at the proposed project site should be used exclusively for industrial purposes due to chemical contamination caused by the former BASF plant.

More jobs – temporarily: The project would create about 150 “well-paying jobs,” but they would only last through the construction phase. A company spokesperson said the temporary nature of the jobs means traffic impacts would be minimal once the project – which is anticipated to last up to 30 months – is complete.

Long-term job creation would be minimal, a representative said. No more than two or three employees are expected to continue working at the James City County location once the site is built.

The permanent jobs would involve monitoring the temperature at the facility. Workers hired for those positions would likely maintain multiple sites and would not be stationed at the James City County location full time.

Supervisor John McGlennon said he hopes residents will take time to learn about the proposed facility and share their feedback.

A public hearing on the project will be held at the county’s planning commission meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the James City County Government Center at 6 p.m.