Jersey Shore borough is fighting a potentially dangerous energy project in their backyard

Atlantic City Electric is preparing to activate its first energy storage system, an emerging technology in electric production, at the site of a decommissioned substation in Beach Haven.

With only a about dozen feet separating the system from homes, residents fear the battery energy storage system, which is comprised of lithium materials, may be dangerous in a fire or emergency.

Beach Haven Mayor Colleen Lambert said the company has resisted borough officials’ requests to delay the project and address potential risks. Borough officials were told the plant could begin storing energy as early as this week.

Atlantic City Electric says safety features are installed into the system to prevent potential large-scale fires.

“I’m sure every town that had one installed didn’t think that…nothing will go wrong,” Lambert said. “If it does, Beach Haven is very, very vulnerable because of our size, not to mention the fact that it’s right in the heart of our business district. It could be really catastrophic if something were to happen.

The system’s installation comes as these types of devices are continually being added to energy grids nationwide to increase their reliability during peak power demands, according to reports from the Associated Press. The facility stores energy during lower periods of energy needs, then disperses the power across the grid when electric is needed.

The Beach Haven project is the first instance where Atlantic City Electric has implemented the emerging technology. It chose the former substation site because of its proximity to other energy infrastructure, the company said.

Atlantic City Electric’s parent company, Chicago-based Exelon, has implemented the technology for its other subsidiaries, including Baltimore Gas and Electric.

Meanwhile, Beach Haven officials are pursuing an independent report to examine the unit’s potential impacts, Lambert said. Atlantic City Electric said it remains engaged in addressing the borough’s concerns.

The company did not say whether it is weighing a decision to pause the roll-out.

Joel Fleishman, an attorney speaking to the Beach Haven Land-Use Board during an April 2022 hearing, said the project called for site improvements surrounding the elevated storage facility, which replaced a former substation that first came online in the 1970s.

A company official speaking at the hearing said Atlantic City Electric would train local firefighters on how to respond to emergencies at the facility. However, the company assured residents and local officials about fire prevention equipment at the site, including an automatic detection system installed in the equipment. The facility also has a “pre-piped” water spray system, which would allow firefighters to address any fire without entering its enclosure, according to the company.

“As part of these efforts, we held an open house for residents and provided training to borough officials, the (Ocean) County Office of Emergency Management, first responders, and fire personnel to help them understand the protection and mitigation procedures that are in place for the operation of the facility,” Atlantic City Electric said in an emailed statement. “We are continuing to make final preparations prior to placing the facility in service and we will keep the community informed regarding our progress and next steps.”

Residents and officials, however, argue that company officials did not adequately address the presence of lithium, which has caused concerns among the firefighting community about its flammability.

Fires at these types of facilities caused dangerous situations, including in Surprise, Arizona, where one exploded in 2019, hospitalizing nine first responders. Several were treated for chemical and chemical-inhalation burns.

Earlier this year, a blaze at one of the world’s largest battery storage facilities in Northern California led to officials evacuating 1,500 people.

“My major concern is the positioning of this thing,” said Jim Ciulla, a retired firefighter and borough resident. “It is so close to residences and commercial properties right in the center of Beach Haven.”

New Jersey is likely to see the technology increasingly deployed across the state as part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean-energy efforts. In June, the Murphy administration launched its first phase of an initiative to have 2,000 megawatts of stored energy available by 2030.

A first solicitation in the state’s effort for 350-750 megawatts concludes at the month’s end.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.