The following response to a community member’s email regarding private wells and property values shows the detailed approach and consistent care Terra-Gen will prioritize in managing a Battery Energy Storage System in the Town of Ulster.
Terra-Gen Response to Community Member re: Private Wells, Property Value and Protecting Health and Safety
The following response to a community member’s email shows the detailed approach and consistent care Terra-Gen will prioritize in managing a Battery Energy Storage System in the Town of Ulster.
- We take concerns about private wells and property value seriously. A few straightforward points:
- No process water use / no well draw: The battery facility does not use process water and will not draw from or discharge to any private wells. Day-to-day operations use only small amounts of domestic water (hand-washing, cleaning) during maintenance visits.
- No current plan to extend water lines: Our current plan does not include extending water lines from the City of Kingston or Rolling Meadows to serve the project. We’ll keep neighbors informed if changes to this plan are considered.
- Well protection & spill prevention: The BESS equipment is housed in sealed outdoor enclosures and equipment with fluids is built with appropriate containment. On top of that, the site will have a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan with Stormwater controls meeting NYSDEC standards so runoff doesn’t affect nearby properties or wells.
- Fire scenario (unlikely) and containment: If a fire were ever to occur, the primary concern is heat management at the equipment—not groundwater. The project includes a 30,000-gallon dedicated tank. That water is for firefighter discretion to cool adjacent equipment or structures—not to extinguish the batteries inside an enclosure. Because responders aren’t applying large volumes of water to the batteries themselves, the risk of contaminated runoff is very low. With these measures, the project presents no greater risk to nearby wells than any typical structural fire in the area.
- Construction safeguards: During construction, we implement best practices to avoid any impact to wells and drainage (e.g., materials handling plans, fueling in designated areas with containment, stormwater pollution prevention with silt fencing, stabilized entrances, etc.).
- Property value: We understand the concern. While property values are influenced by many factors and research is mixed, what is in our control is reducing visual and noise impacts. Our plan includes setbacks the placement and species mix of screening to best protect your dad’s view. The current Project design includes BESS equipment setback ~300 ft from your Dad’s house behind a solid perimeter wall and landscaping.
- Full environmental review: The project is undergoing a comprehensive SEQRA review with public input, which specifically evaluates potential impacts and required mitigations. Your concerns regarding the well and the proximity of your Dad’s property to the Project will be addressed as part of that process.
If you’re interested, I’d like to set up a quick call so we can walk through any additional questions you might have. We’ll also provide a single point of contact for any questions during permitting and construction.
Thank you again for raising these issues. We want to be a good neighbor and make sure your dad’s water and peace of mind are protected.
Best regards,
Mark Turner
Vice President and Head of Energy Storage Development