We have to embrace battery energy storage. It can benefit all New Yorkers and our climate

Across the country, states are choosing energy storage as the best and most cost-effective way to improve grid resilience and reliability. Battery energy storage technologies are uniquely positioned to reduce energy system costs and, over the long-term, stabilize rates for consumers by optimizing the grid, bolster reliability, and enable a clean power grid. Just last week, New York State announced its Roadmap to achieve six gigawatts of energy storage deployment by 2030, which is nearly 20% of peak energy use and expected to reduce future costs by $2 billion.

As the development of battery energy storage systems increases, it's imperative to understand the realities surrounding this technology and recognize its significant benefits for our state. We know that this is new for many communities who may not be familiar with the technology and the potential benefits and minimal risks.

Concerns about the potential for fires at battery energy storage facilities are understandable but require perspective. Battery energy storage has a commendable safety record in New York: with more than 5,000 facilities across the state, only three reported fire incidences have occurred — none of which resulted in injuries or environmental damage. The state fire safety working group, established in response to these incidents found no air or water contamination from these fires.

Large-scale battery energy storage systems are required to adhere to rigorous safety standards and comprehensive testing protocols, including detailed design reviews, advanced fire suppression systems and continuous monitoring to ensure the batteries' health and safety. Battery energy storage facilities also include equipment and systems designed to detect and suppress fires, to vent gases and incorporate fire-proof barriers. Many energy storage technologies are also contained within certified enclosures designed to safely house them.

Research from the American Clean Power Association found that between 2017 and 2022, U.S. energy storage deployments increased by more than 18 times — from 645 MWh to 12,191 MWh — while safety events over the same period increased by a much smaller number, from just two to 12 fire incidents worldwide.

This is all to say that the safety and environmental impact measures that were put in place are working. Battery energy storage operators follow a robust suite of national codes and standards to guide safe operation of battery energy storage facilities and ensure the surrounding environment is protected. These codes and standards are similar to standards that apply to other grid infrastructure projects, which is why incidents at these facilities are rare.  All energy storage operators develop and maintain emergency response plans to ensure that, if there is an event, it is handled safely and according to best practices.  

One might ask why New York should accept any risk of fire by building these facilities. The fact is, battery energy storage is crucial to meeting our clean energy goals, as important as building wind and solar installations or upgrading transmission systems. Strong regulations, advanced equipment and proven procedures are in place to reduce risk of fires in other kinds of energy infrastructure, and the benefits of these things far outweigh the low risk of fires. The same is true of battery energy storage facilities.

Benefits from battery energy storage include significant cost and reliability benefits, acting as a more efficient alternative to expensive transmission upgrades. By storing energy during low-demand periods and releasing it during peak times, these facilities help stabilize the grid and reduce energy costs for consumers. A study from the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium found that using storage alongside transmission can provide an estimated $13.1 million in annual cost savings for New York.

This capability is particularly crucial during extreme weather — like the hot summer days we felt last week — when energy demand peaks. Battery energy storage can deploy energy to prevent blackouts and help replace New York’s dirty peaker plants, which are a leading cause of air pollution and asthma in the region. Retiring peaker plants would not only save money, but drastically improve air quality and public health.

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Moreover, battery energy storage enhances grid resilience against increasingly frequent and severe weather events. Last summer, battery energy storage prevented blackouts across Texas as heat waves strained the grid — protecting 434,000 homes from losing power. Today, New York is home to just 340 megawatts of energy storage capacity. By comparison, California and Texas are each home to 10,000 megawatts and growing.

Regardless of one's view on the energy transition, New York’s antiquated power grid requires critical, near-term upgrades. The question today is how we achieve this. Heat waves and extreme weather threaten the reliability of our grid, and reliance on fossil fuels will result in unpredictable energy cost spikes. Now is not the time to delay this proven technology. Battery energy storage is the most effective solution for enhancing our power grid’s reliability, supporting domestically-sourced energy, and lowering energy costs.

Marguerite Wells is executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy NY and Julie Tighe is president of the New York League of Conservation Voters.