Michigan Community Pushes Back against Energy Storage Facility

This is just one of many projects like it in the state

BLENDON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A possible battery energy storage facility in rural Ottawa County, Michigan, has sparked pushback from residents who fear safety and environmental risks, while supporters say such projects strengthen Michigan’s electric grid and support renewable energy growth.

Three residents told me Key Capture Energy, a company that develops large-scale battery storage facilities nationwide, could be looking at a site on 14 acres in Blendon Township. I have not independently confirmed whether the company plans to locate a facility there.

According to Key Capture Energy’s website, the company builds shipping-container-sized battery systems that draw electricity from the grid when demand is low and return power during peak demand periods. The company says battery storage helps prevent blackouts, supports renewable energy like wind and solar, and reduces reliance on expensive fossil fuel plants.

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“They want to come in and put these containers down that hold lithium batteries,” said Bev, who farms near the proposed site. “They’re going to draw off our current lines to fill the batteries and then put the energy back on when there’s low energy — but that’s not necessarily for our area.”

Sally, who lives near the property, said the first she heard of the proposal was from a mailer announcing an open house. “Nobody in our neighborhood asked for this, and when people found out, nobody wanted it,” she said. “We don’t even know exactly what’s planned, and yet the zoning was already changed in 2024 to allow it.”

Pam, another resident, questioned the long-term impact on farmland and water quality. “We’re talking about 14 acres of cement and massive battery containers,” she said. “If something goes wrong, what happens to our wells, our ecosystem, and the land after 20 years when this is done?”

Opponents point to fire risk as their main concern. Lithium-ion battery fires have been reported at other large storage facilities in California, including the Moss Landing site, prompting evacuations within a one- to three-mile radius.

“These batteries have a high potential for what’s called thermal runaway, which can create fires you can’t put out with water,” Bev said. “We don’t have the firefighting capability for something like this.”

Supporters of battery energy storage say it is critical for handling the growing use of renewable energy, which can be intermittent. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that such facilities can improve grid reliability, prevent outages, and reduce overall costs by eliminating the need for additional fossil fuel-powered peaker plants.

Sally also raised questions about what happens after the batteries are retired. “They only last 15 to 20 years, and there’s no clear plan for how to dispose of them yet,” she said. “We’re taking all the risk and may not even get the benefit if the power goes somewhere else.”

Township officials have not yet held a vote on the project, and residents say they plan to keep raising concerns.

“We want to preserve our farmland and protect our community,” Bev said. “It’s not that we’re against energy — we just want it done safely and in the right place.”