THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026 Page 5 FIRE SAFETY | FROM Page 1 es and discharges that power during peak demand. “This motion is not about taking a position on the project,” said Kelley. “It’s about assuring public safety.” According to state offi cials, battery energy storage systems are an emerging technology that will decrease utility bills, make the grid more reliable and enable the region to use renewable energy more effi ciently. But the systems are meeting increasing opposition from residents who don’t want the facilities in their communities. During the public comment segment of the council meeting, Beach Street resident Corey O’Hara expressed her opposition to the project. “I want to get this out, so the public knows what’s going on… At this point, I don’t think anybody in the public knows about this project,” said O’Hara. She went on to say that the industrial-sized facility will have 57 batteries and if there were a fire, it would create toxic fumes. “This project deserves transparency. We deserve better,” O’Hara told the council. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, BESS fi res create problems for fi rst responders due to the diffi culty of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fi res. The EPA also warns there are potential health impacts from emissions and a need to properly dispose of contaminated burned batteries. However, the EPA also notes that despite some high-profi le incidents, improvements in BESS quality and design have led to a decrease in the number of failure incidents. The Electric Power Research Institute tracks information on BESS fi res and incidents. Since it was launched, the EPRI has documented numerous incidents, particularly following high-profi le fi res in South Korea and the United States. A 2024 fi re at the Gateway Energy Storage Facility in San Diego, California, involved 15,000 lithium-ion batteries and saw fl are-ups for several days. In Chandler, Arizona, a containerized unit burned for more than 10 days, requiring continual cooling. Warwick, New York, saw two days of fi re from batteries, which reports suggested were aff ected by the weather. The EPRI also noted that from 2018 to 2023 there was a 97percent drop in BESS failure rates. “When this came to light, all the questions I got were about fi res, fi re safety, hazardous material,” said Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio, who commended the motion. Ward 3 Councillor Anthony Cogliandro said he will be happy to hear from the fi re department about the proposed facility. He said Flatiron Energy, the company that will develop the facility, is planning a full presentation for the council. “We’ll do our part to bring transparency to this,” said Cogliandro. Councillor-at-Large Marc Silvestri said he spoke with the attorney for Flatiron Energy. Silvestri said the company will provide all the necessary training and equipment the Revere Fire Department would need to suppress a fi re at the facility. Silvestri said he also learned that the batteries would be housed in self-contained units to prevent any spread of fi re. Ward 5 Councillor Angela Guarino-Sawaya focused on the motion and public safety. “We owe it to residents to ensure every precaution is in place,” she said. The council was concerned For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers 781-286-8500 about more than BESS safety and technology. City Council President Anthony Zambuto seemed undecided about which is more disagreeable, lithium-ion batteries or the Dover Amendment. “We’ve seen this more and more, where decisions are driven at the state level and the role of local government is more limited than people expect,” said Kelley, referring to the amendment. The amendment emerged from a 1951 case involving the Town of Dover, which was using zoning bylaws to keep religious schools out of residential neighborhoods. The Legislature stepped in and created laws that protect religious, educational and agricultural land uses from zoning regulations. Silvestri said he wanted to see how the BESS project was protected under a law meant to shield religious, educational and agricultural uses. But over time the Legislature has expanded the Dover Amendment to include projects in sync with the state’s agenda and policies. Solar energy land uses are now protected under the Dover Amendment. “The Dover Amendment is Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 not settled law as of yet,” said Kelley, who added that legislation coming in June or July will require BESS projects to go before a state siting board. The council voted to hold a public hearing with Fire Department offi cials.
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