STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Over 80 residents from New Jersey and Long Island joined their Staten Island neighbors on Saturday to protest the development of battery energy storage systems in residential areas and offshore wind turbine installations.
The rally took place at Midland Beach parking lot, featuring political figures and advocates vocally opposing the projects.
Among the speakers was Staten Island artist and political activist Scott LoBaido. He stressed the role of grassroots movements in fostering change within communities. Although he hoped for a larger turnout, he commended the participants for voicing their concerns.
LoBaido expressed that concerns for marine life should unite people, regardless of political affiliations. He stated, “This is one thing that we can come together on. You know, as much as I’m a conservative, hard-ass, Trump supporter, I’m a liberal, I’m an artist, I believe in this stuff. I believe in community and humanity.”
The issues presented resonated deeply with many attendees. Some expressed fears about the potential dangers of battery sites, worrying that they might catch fire and release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. Others voiced concerns for marine animals and birds at risk due to large offshore turbines.
Jeffrey Sinclair, a resident of Sunnyside, articulated his worries regarding the proposed battery storage systems. “Assuming what I understand, to have the BESS battery storage systems near homes, I don’t think it’s a good idea,” he noted. “I think I understand the reasons why they want them there, but at the same time I don’t think it’s fair to people that live there.”
Sinclair, who lives close to a high school with over 3,000 students, shared his apprehensions about the potential hazards of nearby battery storage.
Mike Dean, a representative from Save The East Coast, a New Jersey-based nonprofit, also shared his insights at the rally. He criticized the wind turbines, claiming they are neither green nor clean. “In operations, toxic chemicals leak from the turbines into the ocean,” Dean argued. He also pointed out that the extensive networks of interconnected cables pose threats to fish and, by extension, to the fishing industry.
“[The turbines] produce garbage energy, we call it. It’s inefficient, it’s intermittent, it ruins the grid and it’s egregiously expensive,” Dean stated.
Councilmember Frank Morano also addressed the audience, criticizing the rapid development of battery storage sites in residential neighborhoods. He described a troubling relationship between lobbyists, campaign donors, and developers, suggesting a systematic issue where taxpayer funds are used to support unproven energy sources. “Think about what a whacky system this is, where we’re subsidizing energy that is unproven in many respects, unreliable in every respect and it’s being done with your taxpayer dollars,” Morano said.
Morano declared that his first legislative proposal would prevent the establishment of battery energy storage facilities in residential districts.
Drawing parallels to historical opposition against liquified natural gas in the 1970s, he recalled community resistance was dismissed as “hysterical” until a disaster in Bloomfield in 1973 led to the deaths of 40 individuals. Morano asserted, “That tragedy proved to the world that LNG was not safe for anybody’s neighborhoods.”
Other notable speakers at the event included John Tabacco and Cara Castronuova, alongside Curtis Sliwa, Republican candidate for mayor and founder of the Guardian Angels. Sliwa emphasized Staten Island’s leadership in opposing the development of battery storage facilities deemed “extraordinarily dangerous.”
He remarked, “It burns itself out (battery storage sites on fire) five, six days, you have to evacuate, it’s a mini Chernobyl. When you finally come back after the plume of Hydrochloric acid goes away and affects other neighborhoods, your property value is zilch. How are you going to get insurance? Who’s going to provide you home insurance if they know you’re right next to a lithium ion battery warehouse?”
The day’s events highlighted a growing concern among residents regarding health and environmental risks associated with the proposed energy projects in their communities. The united front of residents from various areas underscores the significant impact these developments may have on the local environment and quality of life.
image source from：silive
