State Senator Chen Xueli revealed that in addition to the proposed construction of a Lithium Battery Energy Storage Station (BESS) at 1672 Bensonhurst Avenue at 86th Street in Brooklyn, another site located at 924 64th Street, between 9th Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway, is also being considered for a similar facility. Both developments are spearheaded by NineDot Energy. Chen Xueli stated that the opinions of local residents will be prioritized before further decisions are made.
On February 8, Chen Xueli posted on Facebook that there have been suggestions to build an energy storage system at the current parking lot and repair shop location on 924 64th Street. Over the next few days, he and his team will be visiting residents door-to-door to gather feedback before discussing the next steps regarding this project.
He also mentioned that NineDot Energy has informed local elected officials, including City Council Member Alexa Avilés, about the proposed project. Previously, the company had attempted a similar storage station project at 1672 Bensonhurst Avenue. In response to the controversy over site selection, Chen Xueli introduced State Senate Bill S7710, aiming to prohibit the installation of energy storage systems within 500 feet of residential areas and schools, which is currently under review by the Senate Energy Committee. The Senator admitted that the bill is facing challenges from the Democratic Party during the legislative process, and its fate remains uncertain.
Addressing concerns raised by residents on social media regarding ownership and maintenance of the storage system, the actual use of the facility, and the possibility of relocating it to less densely populated areas, Chen Xueli noted that NineDot Energy would be responsible for the system. He expressed his lack of support for the chosen location but was informed by the company of their preference to have the facility “close to their service area.”
Furthermore, Chen Xueli emphasized the challenges of extinguishing fires from these types of installations, stating that fires would need to be cooled below 500 degrees Celsius to be put out. The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) currently lacks the technical capabilities to deal with such large-scale fires, which continue to produce oxygen and other toxic substances during combustion. He cited an air quality report from a related fire incident in Orange County, northern New York, where air monitoring was conducted three times over several days due to continuous burning.
Moreover, Chen Xueli mentioned that the Tesla batteries used by NineDot Energy require approximately 40,000 gallons of water for cooling each unit but even with that, there is no guarantee of complete fire suppression.
A Chinese resident told the Epoch Times that the proposed location of the lithium battery storage station on 64th Street lies near a school and is close to the rear of Feilong Supermarket at 6301 8th Avenue and its large parking lot. The proximity to the lithium battery station on 9th Avenue in a densely populated residential and commercial area raises concerns about fire safety. In the event of an accident, potential firefighting challenges should not be overlooked, and the burning of batteries may release toxic smoke, impacting community health. The resident suggested that controversy would be lessened if such facilities were relocated to areas with lower pedestrian traffic, such as 2nd or 3rd Avenues.
According to the Administrative Code of the City of New York City’s Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS), the property at 924 64th Street was leased in May 2024 to Meadowlark Clean Energy LLC, clearly stating the purpose of leasing as including an energy storage system. The lease was signed on behalf of the tenant by David Arfin, CEO of NineDot Energy. This situation parallels the one at 1672 Bensonhurst Avenue, where the property was leased in November 2024 to Mockingbird Clean Energy LLC, with related documents also signed by David Arfin on their behalf.
It is worth noting that NineDot Energy previously faced opposition and protests due to concerns about fire, explosion, and the risk of toxic smoke during a proposed lithium battery storage system project on Flatbush Avenue in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Several community groups criticized the government and developers for pushing ahead with the project without adequate pre-communication, as residents only received notification “after construction had begun.”
For more information, refer to the following articles:
“Is a ‘Time Bomb’ ticking in the community? Safety concerns surrounding Lithium Battery Energy Storage Stations”
“Brooklyn 86th Street Demolition To Make Way for Battery Storage Station Leaves Community Astonished”