Stop the BESS Invasion

All across America and around the world an invasion is underway. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are being put in rural communities and residential neighborhoods. Because of explosion and fire risks residents are outraged that these facilities are being placed near their homes and children’s schools. Pastureland and farmland is being destroyed in an effort to save the environment. The reality is that installing massive tractor trailer size containers filled with unstable Lithium-ion batteries is not going to save the environment. BESS is leading the way for investors to control the electricity we rely on everyday under the pretense of reducing our carbon emissions and stabilizing the grid.
We are fighting to stop a BESS facility from being built in Christian County, MO (the location will be in Ozark). Join us in the fight to stop these BESS facilities from being built in your community.

What is a BESS?

BESS stands for Battery Energy Storage System. Up until recently BESS facilities were only intended for use with solar and wind farms. This was a way to store the energy they created so that it could be used to store the electricity generated and send it out during times when the wind turbines do not run or it is dark outside. This all changed with the Inflation Reduction Act which now allowed stand alone BESS facilities to be constructed. These stand alone systems are being connected to the traditional power grid. A BESS facility consists of shipping containers that measure 40 feet long, 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Each container houses thousands of Lithium-ion Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries aren’t new, but large scale BESS systems are!

Nearly all BESS facilities in the US have been built in the last 2-3 years or are currently under construction. Per a discussion with a leading expert around BESS safety that works with large power companies, there isn’t much data on failure rates because battery companies are reluctant to share that data as we are seeing brand new facilities exploding and catching fire in the news on a regular basis.

Given how new BESS installations are, there also isn’t information about the long-term failure rates, health impact, or environmental impact from these facilities.

Many of these facilities are NOT built by local power companies but rather by independent operators/investors who live in other states. They make a profit by storing energy when demand is low (e.g. night) and selling it back when demand is high (e.g. day).  Most of these facilities are located on private property and not on the utility company’s property.  Third party contractors are hired to install and maintain the BESS.  They rely on battery companies to provide information and train local first responders.  And when something happens, they all point the finger at each other and leave the residents of the local community alone with no recourse other than expensive legal action.

Fighting to Stop the Building of a BESS in Christian County, MO

We are fighting to stop Black Mountain Energy Storage from building a BESS facility in Ozark, MO. Our beautiful pastureland, delicate ecosystem of endangered species, our water supply, and our peace of mind are all in jeopardy if this project gets approved by the county commission.

Black Mountain Energy Storage is an energy parasite. They get BESS facilities approved in communities and then sells them off to investment groups, banking groups and foreign investors in the UK, Switzerland and South Korea. We cannot allow our community to be put at risk of a BESS fire and catastrophic disaster so that investors can profit. Click here to learn more.

Dangers of BESS Facilities

BESS facilities should never be built in residential neighborhoods, rural communities, near schools, churches, agricultural areas, and the like. The dangers of BESS facilities is a big problem that county leaders are completely ignoring when they vote to allow these facilities to be built in these areas. It is not a question of if, but a question of when a catastrophic failure of a BESS facility will happen.

Why risk the safety and well being of the residents in Christian County, MO so that investors can profit at our expense?

Click here for a full list of the Safety Risks, Quality of Life Issues and the Reasons that BESS facilities offer no benefit to the community.

Safety Risks of BESS Facilities

  • Lithium-ion batteries are prone to overheating, swelling, electrolyte leakage venting, fires, smoke, and explosions in worst-case scenarios involving thermal runaway. Thermal runaway leads to explosions and fires within seconds.
  • Fires can’t be easily extinguished and best practice is to let them burn out, which can take days while residents within a 1/4 to 1 mile are evacuated and shelter in place orders can be issued for up to a two mile radius.

Quality of Life Issues with BESS Facilities

  • Turning residential neighborhoods and rural communities into industrial zones.
  • Noise & Light Pollution.

No Real Benefit to the Community

  • Communities are being asked to assume the risks with none of the financial rewards that investors will be making operating these facilities.
  • Property values are estimated to drop ~10-30% of more depending on how close you live in relation to a BESS facility.