1 week Ago By Katecey Harrell
Van Zandt County officials have taken legal action to halt a battery storage project near the intersection of Highway 47 and FM 1651, saying the companies involved did not follow national fire safety rules. The project, led by companies including Taaleri Energia North America (based in Finland), BT Amador Storage, Amador Bess Holdings, Renewable Energy Systems Americas, and Belltown Texas Power 2, involves installing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) using lithium-ion batteries. On April 9, the Van Zandt County District Attorney asked Judge Chris Martin of the 294th Judicial District Court to issue a temporary restraining order.
Martin approved the order, which blocks the companies and any contractors from bringing, storing or moving lithium-ion batteries into Van Zandt County. The order will stay in place for 14 days. During that time, county officials plan to ask for a longer ban until the companies meet fire safety standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
County leaders allege the companies have not followed those rules. In response, the Van Zandt County Commissioners' Court passed a resolution supporting the legal action. The resolution says batteries should not be allowed in the county unless the fire marshal or a court confirms the project is following all safety standards.
County officials say the safety of residents is the main concern. At a Feb. 20 meeting, over 100 residents gathered to learn about the project and voice safety concerns, including the risk of fire and environmental damage from a lithium battery explosion.
According to the Amador website, the developer believes the project would bring “significant” benefits to Van Zandt County, requiring “few” public services but contributing over $10 million in property tax revenue. The website states this facility could prevent power outages like those caused by Winter Storm Uri, improving the reliability and resilience of the power grid. Despite the potential benefits, local residents continue to voice concerns they feel have not been addressed by the company.
Van Zandt County has only one full-time fire department in Canton, while other areas rely on volunteer fire departments lacking proper equipment and protective gear for hazardous material fires. Firefighters’ current gear is designed for thermal protection, not for exposure to hazardous chemicals, which increases cancer risk. Lithium fires require hazmat gear, as exposure to toxic particles can be deadly.
Fire departments responding to lithium battery fires don’t use water, but rather work to keep metal storage containers below 176 degrees Fahrenheit. Given that storage sites can contain up to 150,000 pounds of lithium, preventing overheating is crucial. However, the closest fire department is over 15 miles away, and specialized hazmat teams are over 95 minutes away, making emergency response slow.
Van Zandt County residents oppose battery storage project Amador Energy Storage claims the project is designed with fire safety features, including training for local fire departments and mutual aid responders, with annual refresher courses at no cost. According to the website, battery fires do not require specialized equipment; firefighters monitor the fire, which is expected to self-extinguish with facility support. Precinct 2 Commissioner Cliff Williams previously said the court initially believed the project would be well-received.
However, as citizens began researching the safety of battery energy storage systems, they found troubling reports of fires and explosions. The commissioners began to scrutinize the safety of battery storage systems, asking the developers for information such as testing results, emergency plans and commissioning details. The initial testing results provided by the developers did not meet required safety standards.
The tests showed that the batteries experienced thermal runaway, where one battery ignites and potentially causes others to catch fire. The runaway was not contained, and the smoke and emissions were found to be flammable outside the container. Amador Energy Storage asserts it is fully compliant with NFPA 855.
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