Frequently Asked Questions
Money
Yes, but indirectly. Battery storage helps utilities avoid expensive peak power purchases and grid upgrades – savings that get passed along to customers over time. Plus, the property tax revenue this generates helps keep other local taxes lower.
Approximately $[X] million over [xx] years. That’s money for schools, roads, emergency services, and other community needs – without costing taxpayers anything.
No. Battery storage facilities are quiet, clean infrastructure similar to electrical substations. The economic benefits and improved grid reliability typically enhance community value. Plus, many buyers today specifically want communities with modern, reliable infrastructure.
The project owner carries comprehensive insurance and is legally required to post bonds covering any cleanup or decommissioning costs. Taxpayers have zero financial risk.
Safety
Even in the worst case, studies show that battery fires stay contained and don’t create lasting environmental problems. Your local fire department will be specifically trained for this facility. Modern battery systems are designed so that fires can’t spread between units.
Very little. At the property line, you’d hear less noise than from normal street traffic. The equipment runs quietly – similar to a large air conditioning unit.
During normal operation, there are no emissions at all. Even in the rare event of a problem, studies of actual incidents show that any emissions stay very localized and dissipate quickly – no lasting effects on air quality.
The equipment looks like large, clean shipping containers arranged neatly on a fenced site. We’ll include landscaping and screening to minimize visual impact. Many people find these facilities less intrusive than typical industrial buildings.
Practical
Very minimal impact. After construction (6-12 months), the facility requires only occasional maintenance visits – maybe one service truck per week.
We’re legally required to remove all equipment and restore the site. Plus, battery materials are valuable – lithium, cobalt, and other components get recycled into new batteries.
You’re more likely to notice what doesn’t happen – the grid becomes more stable overall. If a large power plant or major transmission line fails, battery storage helps prevent the kind of widespread cascading blackouts that can affect entire regions. For local outages (like a tree falling on your neighborhood lines), you’d still lose power just like before.
Because you get all the benefits (lower costs, better reliability, tax revenue, jobs) with minimal impact. It’s modern infrastructure that makes your community more attractive and economically competitive.
The Bottom Line
There’s no catch. This is proven technology that’s already working in hundreds of communities. We make money by providing grid services to the utility, the community gets reliable power and tax revenue, and everyone wins.
Your location is perfect for grid services, you have the right electrical infrastructure nearby, and frankly, you have a community that’s forward-thinking enough to embrace technology that benefits everyone.
Reach out to us and ask tough questions. Talk to residents in other communities with battery storage. Look at the safety data yourself. We’re confident that the more you learn, the more you’ll want this project in McHenry County.
