Latest news with #MidwaterEnergyStorageProject
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
County board votes against battery storage project near Glenville
Apr. 15—The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-1 on a resolution that opposes the proposed battery energy storage project near Glenville after hearing several comments both in favor and against. Commissioners Dawn Kaasa, Lukas Severson and Brad Edwin voted to oppose the project, while Commissioner Chris Shoff abstained from voting. Fifth District Commissioner Nicole Eckstrom was absent from the meeting. Shoff said he did not recall the board making a blanket statement previously about a project reviewed by the Public Utilities Commission and said in the past he thought commissioners could voice their opinions individually if they chose. Shoff said while he would have been in favor of drafting something that said the board was concerned about factors such as the proximity of the project near the Shell Rock River and Glenville-Emmons School, he was against jumping forward and flat-out saying the board was opposed to the project as a whole. The action comes as discussion about the proposed project, called the Midwater Energy Storage Project, has been heated in the community. As the state reviews the project, many Glenville residents have questioned the safety of the project for wildlife and for residents, particularly with the location, and what would happen in the event of a fire with the system. The 150-megawatt battery energy storage system proposed by Florida-based Spearmint Energy would be off of U.S. Highway 65 south of Glenville on land adjacent to the ITC Midwest substation. The storage system is designed to take energy off the grid that is coming from various sources, whether that be wind, solar, gas or other carbon-based resources. According to the project application to the state, the system would have the potential to store enough energy to provide electricity for approximately 100,000 households for up to four hours, based on an average household's electricity consumption. Third District Commissioner Lukas Severson said the board's resolution was a tool for the commissioners to make a statement about the project and acknowledge the citizens who have voiced their concerns. He referenced over 100 letters. The resolution states the project would utilize new technology that is rapidly evolving, and stated there is not a well-documented history of impacts of those projects on local communities, residents wildlife or the environment. It referenced health and safety concerns and pointed to continuous noise that would cause a nuisance to people and wildlife. The nearby Shell Rock River Watershed is a DNR-designated state water trail and is enjoyed by kayakers, canoers and fishing enthusiasts. The resolution also questioned the long-term economic benefits to the county and said it would instead burden the county with health and safety risks, costs, negative impacts on property values and others. While the resolution specifically states it opposes the development and operation of the development in its proposed location near Glenville, it would also oppose the development and operation of a battery energy storage system near other communities, waterways or wildlife management areas. Second District Commissioner Dawn Kaasa said there were vast areas the project could be built on and questioned why the company could not research and choose another location. She said she took offense to comments made by former 3rd District Commissioner John Forman, who compared the resolution to the story of Chicken Little, who stated that the sky was falling, as a means to sway the rest of the county against the project and green energy. Forman, the father of Mariah Lynne, owner of Good Steward Consulting, who has represented Spearmint Energy, said the board's resolution would be seen as negative by other green energy companies and other businesses looking to relocate to the county. Regarding speculation that the project was being kept secret until more recently, Forman talked about a meeting he had been asked to attend with former Administrator Ryan Rasmusson and Trevor Bordelon with Environmental Services with the county. At the time, Forman served on the Planning Commission and a few other boards dealing with similar topics and it made sense for him to attend. During the public forum, a handful of employees of Good Steward Consulting spoke in favor of the project as individuals. Emma Thompson said battery energy storage projects help stabilize the grid and said the system would have 24/7 monitoring and internal sensors. She said thermal events are rare and compared the opposition to the project to banning cars or bridges because of the possibility they could fail. Tiffany Paino described the amount of misinformation that has been out there about the project and said it was imperative to depend on reputable sources rather than fear-mongering. Holly Rahn said she has lived in Albert Lea her whole life and said she believed the board's vote was premature. She said by investing in solar, wind and battery storage projects, it can position the county as a forward-thinking leader. Theresa Nicholson, who spoke on behalf of the company, said Good Steward has worked on 100 energy projects in over 20 states, and Minnesota has the most stringent permitting process. She pointed to the myriad of studies required and the transparency and public participation that the Public Utilities Commission has undertaken. Cole Pestorious read a letter on behalf of Lynne, who was in Seattle, which also referenced a rigorous permitting process and review by numerous agencies. Greg Olson, who lives on South Shore Drive, said he had some concerns about what was being proposed and was concerned about the effect it could have on wildlife. He said the Shell Rock River should be treated with the same respect as the lakes in Albert Lea, noting a system like this would never be built that close to Fountain or Albert Lea lakes. Tim Kaasa of rural Glenville, said the Shell Rock Township also recently passed a resolution against the system being at that location and said there were multiple other locations near substations that could be considered. Jeff Jackson, a representative with Spearmint Energy, asked the board to reconsider their vote and also referred to the comprehensive evaluation that is conducted on the state level that details environmental and human impacts. He said the Public Utilities Commission is undergoing an environmental assessment of the project. The PUC oversees the review and approval of all battery energy storage systems in the state. The environmental assessment evaluates potential impacts of the project and incorporates public comments and concerns. The Public Utilities Commission is currently seeking public input on issues that should be reviewed in the assessment, and that scoping period will close April 21. After that, the PUC will prepare an assessment that will then be shared with the public, and at that time, there will be additional opportunities for public comment. After the meeting, Spearmint Energy released the following statement about the project: "Spearmint Energy designs all of our projects to comply with all applicable regulations and requirements — including Minnesota's rigorous standards for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) — while ensuring the health and safety of the communities we serve are a top priority. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is in the process of conducting its detailed Environmental Assessment (EA) of our Midwater BESS, including public comments, and Spearmint continues to engage with numerous stakeholders, including County staff, Shell Rock River Watershed, local first responders and ALEDA. We remain committed to ensuring we address the community's feedback as we bring this project to fruition."
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Battery storage system proposed south of Glenville
Mar. 4—A renewable energy company headquartered in Miami with an additional office in Minneapolis has proposed a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system be constructed off of U.S. Highway 65 south of Glenville. Called the Midwater Energy Storage Project, it would be placed on 10 to 20 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the ITC Midwest substation, which is known as the Glenworth Substation. "We're excited to bring the project to this region," said Mary Matze, project developer with Spearmint Energy, the standalone battery energy system operator proposing the project. "We think it will be a net benefit to the community and provide some benefits that allow for grid stabilization and grid reliability and really allow this region to maximize the existing infrastructure that they have." Battery storage systems as a whole are positioned to lower energy system costs by optimizing the grid, bolstering reliability and enabling a clean grid. Matze said the battery energy storage system is not affiliated with the nearby wind project and will take energy off the grid that is coming from various sources, whether that be wind, solar, gas or other carbon-based resources. "When we looked at sites we were looking for where there's grid volatility. ..." Matze said. "We take that extra energy off the line through the substation. The substation helps convert that energy into a state where we can store it. We store it just like you would store corn, wheat or soy in a bin — when there's extra corn, wheat or soy. We are storing energy in the battery, and then when the market is ready for it, we release it back onto the grid. Really what this helps do is provide low-cost energy during times of high consumption." Matze said highest peak energy usage is at night and then again in the morning, and it requires using resources that are expensive to supply the energy needed for people's homes at that time. This would enable the company to provide a lower cost product during those times — known as peak shaving. According to the project application to the state, the system would have the potential to store enough energy to provide electricity for approximately 100,000 households for up to four hours, based on an average household's electricity consumption. The storage system itself will look like a series of storage containers, and inside each unit will be batteries stacked in drawers. Matze noted each unit is fully contained, and she estimated there will be between 75 and 100 units over the possible 20 acres. In addition to grid volatility, she said the company looks at other factors when considering a site, such as if they can safely site a project. The company looks at national standards with the National Fire Protection Association and other regulatory agencies to ensure they're providing a project that can be managed safely by the local fire department in case of a battery failure that results in a thermal event. She said she understands there are concerns and is available to meet with people and answer questions they may have. About 500 battery energy storage systems operate safely throughout the country, and it is rare for one to start on fire, she said. Matze said Spearmint Energy uses Tier 1 technology, which has not had any power failures or battery failures that have resulted in a thermal event. She noted there is a lot of misinformation on the internet about battery fires, but she said in those instances where there have been fires, those systems have utilized different, older technology. In the event one unit were to catch fire, however, they would allow the fire to burn itself out in that unit. She said research has shown no adverse impacts to any of the surrounding communities. She has also received questions about if there is the possibility the batteries could leak into the neighboring land, given the proximity to the Shell Rock River. Matze said there will not be liquid inside the batteries they have in the units. And in the event one does start fire, they are not designed to be sprayed with water or other things to extinguish the blaze that could lead to runoff. She noted Minnesota has one of the most "vigorous" processes for reviewing battery energy storage systems in the country, and she's happy to participate in the project so they can build a safe project for the community. The company's permit would be for 30 years and the batteries have a guaranteed lifespan of 20 to 25 years. Spearmint met with community leaders about the project in April 2024, including the former county administrator, as well as former Commissioner John Forman and the county's planning and zoning administrator. She said the company is required by state law to notify Freeborn County, the Shell Rock River Watershed District, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and others. The project is currently under a state comment period through March 10 through the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on the scope of the environmental assessment. Written comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m that day via by email at or by mail at Consumer Affairs Office, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 1217 Seventh Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101. "We are committed to continuing to meet with folks and we invite them to provide their comments to the Public Utilities Commission," Matze said. The company also plans to have an open house where people can meet with representatives from the company and learn more about the project. If all goes according to plan and the project can get the necessary approvals, they hope to be under construction in 2027, though they strongly expect those dates will get pushed back, Matze said. They said they are still looking for a power purchase agreement, which could be with any utility, including one such as Freeborn Mower Electric. "At the end of the day, we're here to be a community partner," she said. 'We're looking to work with communities. We expect to be a long-term part of the community, so we encourage people to reach out directly if they have questions." Matze can be reached by email at mmatze@ The project website can be found at In brief discussion about the issue at the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, 2nd District Commissioner Dawn Kaasa said many residents want to know what the evacuation plan would be for the project and how the fire department would be trained to respond. She said there are many other locations with access to a substation where a project like that could go and questioned why it had to be at that specific site so close to the Shell Rock River. A group of concerned residents met to discuss the project Monday at Glenville-Emmons High School. Check back for more information from that meeting.
