A proposed utility-scale battery project in Saugus, Massachusetts, is bringing two major issues into focus at once: how much authority towns have over large clean energy projects nearby and how battery storage could help make the electric grid cheaper and more reliable.
The plan from Flatiron Energy, known as Blacksmith Storage, would place a 225-megawatt battery installation at 1 Rear Pennsylvania Ave.
But at the Planning Board meeting, one of the first major questions was whether Dover Amendment protections would limit how much local control Saugus still has.
Here's what to know
At the meeting, town counsel Jesse Schomer said Flatiron argued the proposal could fall under the Dover Amendment, which the Itemlive reported can protect certain land uses from parts of local regulation. Board members then pressed him on what authority the town would still keep over the site, including roads and water.
Schomer told the board, "You're allowed to impose requirements to the extent they're reasonable as long as it doesn't nullify the allowed use."
Project manager Hannah Larkin described Flatiron as a company focused entirely on standalone battery storage, not power generation. She said the proposed facility would act like a large rechargeable battery, absorbing electricity and sending it back to the grid during demand spikes, generation shortfalls, or when operators need help balancing power flow.
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Larkin told the board that batteries can respond within seconds, while some peaking plants may take about 15 minutes to start supplying electricity.
Because peak-demand periods are often among the most expensive times on the grid, that speed can make a big difference.
More background
The plan calls for lithium iron phosphate batteries, which Larkin described as safer than some alternatives and not containing heavy metals.
She also said the site is already developed, has limited environmental constraints, sits more than 1,000 feet from abutters, and would be fenced and monitored around the clock.
On a footprint of roughly 12 acres, the project would include 136 containers. Larkin said each container would be about 14 feet tall, 8 feet wide, and 24 feet long, and that construction is expected to take about 16 months. Once in operation, the facility would create minimal traffic and would not require on-site staffing.
"This is a 225-megawatt project," Larkin said. "Roughly, that's enough energy to power over 40,000 homes. I believe it's actually closer to 50,000."
Larkin said batteries can participate in wholesale power markets in ways that help ease price spikes and reduce transmission-related costs that show up on electric bills.
What's being done?
Massachusetts is aiming to procure 10,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2035, and more than 6,000 battery storage systems are already connected to the grid.
Beyond Saugus, Flatiron is developing a Revere project near the Saugus line and is building projects in Uxbridge and Chelsea. The company told officials that it wants to emphasize a community-centered approach that includes fire safety coordination and training with local departments.
At the meeting, Saugus Fire Department training officer Cory Rutledge said he had already spoken with Flatiron director of fire protection and safety Chris Groves. Larkin also said that Lynnfield firefighters would be able to participate in training.
The Planning Board voted to continue the hearing to November 4, seek a peer review from Tetra Tech, and schedule a site visit.
"The whole nation is experiencing challenges with aging grid infrastructure, and that infrastructure is reaching the end of its useful life," Larkin said. "We also are experiencing challenges associated with demand rising."
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