Waterford agency, town worry battery storage facility would affect clients with disabilities

Waterford ― An agency that serves people with disabilities says it is concerned that a proposed lithium battery storage facility next door would be too noisy and create a stressful environment for its clients.

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Eastern Connecticut officials are also worried about the risk of fire from the facility, that it would be an eyesore, and that noise could drive away potential clients.

UCP provides a variety of services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at several locations, including the 42 Old Norwich Road building, which also houses six executive offices and a food pantry.

In a June 14 letter to the Board of Selectmen, UCP Executive Director Jennifer Keatley asked the town to oppose the project which is currently before the Connecticut Siting Council, the state agency responsible for approving the location of power facilities and transmission lines. Because of this oversight, the project does not require town zoning approval.

On Wednesday, the town submitted a letter to the siting council, saying it has concerns similar to UCP.

First Selectman Rob Brule wrote the town is concerned about the adverse consequences of the facility on residents and users of UCP’s services, “who are particularly vulnerable because of their special needs.”

He wrote the town opposes the project unless the developer can limit the noise from the facility to no louder than the ambient noise level that already exists in the neighborhood.

That approach is the same the town sought in a host fee agreement signed last year with NE Edge for a controversial data center proposed for the Millstone Power station property.

“Replicating this approach would protect the clients who rely on UCP’s essential treatment services every day,” Brule wrote.

The project

The project calls for construction of a 48 lithium-ion battery storage facility on the adjacent one-acre parcel at 40 Norwich Road, east of a residential area and south of the UCP building.

The liquid-cooled facility would be used to store approximately 4 megawatts of energy at a time from the electric grid and be capable of discharging that energy in less than one second, according to Irvine, Calif.-based developer Hanwha QCells America Inc.’s March petition to the siting council.

Hanwha QCells, which describes itself as a solar and energy storage facility developer and contractor, wrote in is petition that it expects the facility to begin operation in October 2026, and that it would help provide energy stability to an area that has a limited ability to import electricity.

But Keatley wrote the facility could significantly disrupt UCP’s operations, and the well being of its clients.

Keatley said Tuesday most of the 30 adult clients served by the building’s total care program are nonverbal or cannot walk without assistance. The program runs weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“They come here so that they don’t spend their entire day doing nothing,” Keatley said. “This is their community space. This is where they come for recreation and engagement with peers outside of their homes.”

Keatley said clients have increased anxiety, stress or behavioral responses to noise or visual stimuli. Some require noise reduction.

She explained that if a client is exhibiting stressful behaviors that require calming staff bring them outside where they can have some quiet in a patio and garden area.

She said that area would be about 14 feet from the perimeter of the battery storage facility, and worries clients would face noise from the facility.

According to Hanwha’s acoustic study, sound produced by the facility would exceed the nighttime limit set by the state for homes to the west but not toward UCP.

The study recommends building a wall to shield the homes and UCP. The wall would reduce the noise to about 54 decibels toward the UCP building, and 43 decibels in the direction of the closest residences. Both are within state acceptable limits. A household refrigerator emits about 50 decibels.

Hanwha QCells’ petition to the siting council does not include the wall. The town has said Hanwha QCells is amending its application to include the wall.

Hanwha QCells could not be reached to comment Wednesday. Last week, the company asked the siting council for a time extension to answer a list of the council’s questions, including those about noise and the risk of a fire. The new deadline to provide answers is Aug. 30, and the siting council must make a decision by Sept. 23.

“Batteries do have a risk of fire, and we’re very close,” Keatley said. “And the folks that we support, they have limited mobility. We have one staff person for every three people that use a wheelchair.”

According to the petition, Hanwha QCells met with the town officials, including Fire Marshal Steve Dubicki in February to discuss the project. The company then sent Dubicki more information on the facility’s safety features, which include sprinklers and anti-explosion measures.

Director of Fire Services Michael Howley, who was not at that meeting, said he doesn’t have “too many concerns” with a fire at the facility.

Battery storage is a new technology, he said, but with current built-in safety measures, fires are rare.

There are some cases across the country of long-burning fires breaking out at such facilities. Two months ago, a fire at a 250-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage facility in San Diego, Calif., burned for days before local fire officials could put it out. That facility is 62 times the size of the proposed facility here.

Howley said if a fire did occur, there isn’t much local firefighters could do besides keeping it from spreading to surrounding properties.

d.drainville@theday.com