1. Dispatch power during peak demand times
   Being able to store power and dispatch it on demand smooths the edges of peak demand times, which shelters ratepayers from enormous spikes in prices.

2. More stable grid
   The system reliability benefits of BESS cannot be understated. Energy storage systems help stabilize the entire grid during extreme weather or power related needs, helping an entire region maintain grid stability.

3. Reduce the need for inefficient peaker plants

4. Take advantage of renewable energy to lower overall energy costs
   Wind and solar produce energy cheaply and abundantly, when there is sun or wind. The goal of BESS is to capture some of the energy when produced and release it during peak demand time, which is generally 3-8 pm.

5. Energy arbitrage
   Basically this involves buying power when it is cheaper and using it when it would be more expensive. As a regulated utility, when your power company reduces their costs, the savings is passed on to you.

6. Voltage support
   During heavy loads, to help prevent grid brownouts.

7. Frequency support
   In the US, our AC power cycles at 60hz. A variation, caused from extreme loads, can be very detrimental.

8. Backup power
   BESS can stand in for power plant maintenance or planned line interruptions.

9. Deferral of electrical infrastructure upgrades
   Strategic placement of smaller BESS can alleviate power bottlenecks on congested lines, deferring the need for expensive conductor upgrades.

Resources

🔵  Why Utilities Are Trading Peaker Plants for Batteries

🔵  The Peaker Problem: Peaker Power Plants Facts and Impacts

🔵  Battery Storage Economics

🔵  The Myth of the 24/7/365 Power Plant

Electricity, being the most useful and therefore most prized of energy sources, takes a lot of twists and turns before it gets to your home or business. While transformers, the backbone of the transmission system, have a real-world efficiency of around 98% each, there are 2-3 of them between you and the power source, and the further you are away from the power source, the more line losses add up as well.

In Kansas, this all adds up to around a 6% average loss attributed to the grid alone.

Key BESS Lithium Round-Trip Efficiency Figures:

• Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP): 88–94% (highest common efficiency).

• Factors other than battery chemistry

  • System Architecture: DC-coupled systems are generally more efficient than AC-coupled systems because they require fewer conversion stages.

  • Operational Conditions: High charge/discharge rates and extreme temperatures increase heat loss and reduce efficiency.

  • Auxiliary Components: Inverters, HVAC systems, and Battery Management Systems (BMS) consume power, decreasing the total system efficiency.

Example: If a BESS is charged with 5 MWh and discharges 4.6 MWh, the RTE is 92%, meaning 8% of energy was lost.

In 2026, a good middle of the road number for Lithium (LFP) Utility Scale BESS is 90%.

To insure more power gets to customers, the best way to lower losses and increase efficiency is to locate geographically distributed power plants close to end users, and utilize the most efficient BESS possible.

Resources

🔵  Why Round-Trip Efficiency Decides the Real Value of Battery Energy Storage

🔵  Transformer Efficiency: The Ultimate FAQs Guide

🔵  How Much Electricity Disappears Between A Power Plant And Your Plug?

🔵  BESS Round Trip Efficiency (RTE)

The average lifespan of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) BESS is 15-20 years for the batteries, and a bit less for electronics. However, it is quite likely that systems will get upgraded components, replaced cell packs, etc. over time.

Some of the non-flammable BESS chemistries can last even longer, approaching 35 year life spans or more.

Overall project infrastructure may be designed to last up to 20 or 30 years with battery augmentation or replacement, as batteries can lose 1-3% capacity each year.

It may even be that the owner decides early in the project lifespan to fully swap out the batteries for the latest technology, and sell the old ones on the secondary market to be used in another project.

We live in a free market society. The economics of a BESS project, and whether to move forward with the project, or not, lay solely with the investor.

Resources

🔵  Where did the 10-year warranty come from?

🔵  Beyond 20 Years: Maximizing Battery Storage Lifespan and Value

🔵  BESS Lifespan: How Long Do Battery Energy Storage Systems Last?

Studies on property values near BESS are still emerging, but historical data on similar “quiet” utilities (like electrical substations) show negligible long-term impacts on property values.

Utility-grade BESS installations must be paired with transmission lines and substations, and these both already represent a far greater footprint and profile than a BESS installation would.

There are concerns about development of almost any kind in terms of the aesthetic and economic impact on the community close to a development. In the case of BESS projects, there are existing solutions for the aesthetic concerns, and their similarity to other energy infrastructure, such as oil wells, substations, and large propane tanks, suggest that expectations of lower property values are inflated as well.

BESS facilities have a smaller footprint and lower profile when compared with other industrial or energy infrastructure. They can be hidden behind "living fences" (evergreen trees), berms, or decorative fencing. It is up to city/county government to negotiate an agreeable solution in terms of these aesthetic concerns.

Resources

🔵  The Impact of Utility-scale BESS Projects on Property Values

🔵  Property Values and Utility-Scale Solar Facilities

First of all, lithium BESS ideally should only use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries which are composed of a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathode, a graphite anode, and a lithium-based electrolyte. Unlike other lithium-ion batteries, LFP chemistries replace expensive cobalt and nickel with abundant, low-cost iron and phosphate, making them safer, more stable, and longer-lasting. If a LFP large scale BESS catches fire and burns, there will be NO heavy metals contamination in the resulting smoke.

Lithium metal makes up about 2.5%, by weight, of an LFP battery module. There are significant new lithium deposits being discovered every year, and the historically resource intensive nature of lithium mining is changing. Companies are focused on innovative new methods to make it easier to mine lithium, responsibly.

The final piece to the puzzle is lithium recyling. As battery use grows, comprehensive recycling chains will have to develop to cope with the increased supply. As a society, we aren't there yet, so public pressure, and the high cost to mine new lithium supplies, will continue to force industry in this direction.

Resources

🔵  Extracting lithium more sustainably for a growing market

🔵  How is lithium mined?

🔵  Recycling lithium-ion batteries delivers significant environmental benefits

🔵  Wikipedia -Lithium iron phosphate battery

Picture a manufacturer that uses significant power at certain times of the day. In this example, they use an electric furnace to cast large amounts of metal. Their extremely large electric loads are concentrated in the mornings and early afternoons.

They could install a 1 MWh BESS in their facility, behind the meter, to time-shift electrical power. They could purchase cheap power at night, to charge their BESS, and release the power during the day when they use their furnace. This would also help their grid neighbors, as the large demand wouldn't cause power fluctuations during the day. It could also keep the business from going into expensive peak demand charges with their electrical provider.

If the BESS was inexpensive enough, the system could pay for itself in a matter of years. It could also provide backup power for business continuity.

The commercial possibilities are endless. BESS prices are expected to decrease for the foreseeable future. It is only a matter of time before price and possibility meet to enable a commercial energy revolution.

Resources

🔵  5 Real-World Examples of Industries Using BESS

🔵  Top Applications of BESS in Commercial & Industrial Projects

🔵  BESS -A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FOR MODERN BUSINESS

🔵  BESS: When does it make economic sense for your business?

🔵  Viridi installs the first large-scale indoor battery system in the U.S.

🔵  BESS Maximum Allowable Quantities at the C&I scale

🔵  BESS for business –everything you need to know

EMF (electro-magnetic field)
Power-frequency EMF, 50 or 60 Hz, carries very little energy, has NO ionizing effects, and usually has no thermal effects. The strength of a magnetic field decreases dramatically with increasing distance from the source. This means that the strength of the field reaching a house or structure will be significantly weaker than it was at its point of origin.

For example, a magnetic field measuring 57.5 milligauss immediately beside a 230 kilovolt transmission line measures just 7.1 milligauss at a distance of 100 feet, and 1.8 milligauss at a distance of 200 feet, according to the WHO in 2010.

The most significant dose of EMF you are likely to recieve actually comes from your mobile phone, which emits very little EMF, but is emitted at extremely close distances to your body. 

EMF from BESS is not known to be a health hazard in any way.

You might be interested to know that there is a dangerous ionizing radiation you come in contact with on a daily basis. It's called sunlight. Be safe, wear sunscreen.

NOTE: There is currently controversy in the field of EMF and health, so you may read varying sensationalized articles related to this. Many studies purporting to show links to health issues have been shown to have many flaws. For instance, this study concludes that EMF causes a rise in miscarriages. However, if you read the comments at the bottom of the study, and if you read the Matters Arising to this article published on 12 November 2021, you will see many issues raised. While peer review and critique are a part of the scientific process, for some reason suspect research in this area abounds. If you read an article showing links to bad health from electrical power infrastructure, skepticism should be in order.

EMI (electro-magnetic interference)
EMI is the disruption of electronics caused by electromagnetic radiation, or electrical noise, emitted from other equipment.

Because BESS setups utilize high-power inverters, fast-switching semiconductors, and complex Energy Management Systems in close proximity, they naturally generate electromagnetic noise. Utilities rely on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) engineering—such as proper shielding, grounding, and filtering techniques—to ensure all devices and inverters can operate safely in shared electromagnetic environments without degrading each other.

Resources

🔵  Controversy in Electromagnetic Safety  -A must read

🔵  Cell Phones Pose Health Risks -Devra Davis -Controversial example, from 2010. Devra is still at it and has moved on to the dangers of 5G

🔵  Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power

🔵  Hillman Energy Center BESS Report on Electric and Magnetic Fields

🔵  Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, and how EMFs may affect your health.

🔵  Electromagnetic Fields and Cancer

🔵  EMC Challenges in Battery Energy Storage

🔵  Top 5 EMI Design Lessons for Battery Energy Storage Systems

Yes, there is. Even with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), long considered the safest chemistry.

Concern is justified, and residents should ask tough questions and be given straight answers. Safety for residents, firefighters, and downwind neighbors must be a priority. 

The actual numbers for fires in all chemistries of lithium batteries are between 1-10 per million batteries. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) , being the safest chemistry, statistically has a much lower failure rate than that, but there are almost no studies available on just LFP chemistry to quote.

Toxic metals come from NMC batteries, not LFP batteries. Only LFP batteries are recommended for BESS applications, if non-immersed lithium chemistry is allowed by local regulations. 

The question is: how do we manage the risk, and how do we respond if a fire does happen?

First some basic facts:

• LFP batteries do not contain toxic heavy metals.

• LFP batteries do not generate their own oxygen.

• LFP batteries should be vented, to prevent explosion, as the gasses from an LFP battery fire are flammable.

• No adjacent properties in the U.S. have ever caught fire due to a BESS fire.

• No lives have been lost in the U.S. due to a BESS fire.

• A residential 500 gal. propane tank has the same energy as a 10 MWh LFP BESS.

• There are billions of lithium batteries in the US. From hearing aids, to phones, to power tools, we are surrounded by lithium batteries, with most of them being a less safe chemistry variant than LFP. 

• In none of the reviewed cases of environmental sampling related to past BESS fire events were contaminant concentrations found that would pose a public health concern or necessitate further remediation.

Hazardous Smoke

If an LFP BESS featuring Let-It-Burn technology catches fire, on average 1-4 module blocks will burn, producing smoke that is similar to a home or plastics fire. This smoke can be hazardous, especially in the concentrated amounts fire fighters might encounter. 

LFP batteries do not emit toxic heavy metals like nickel, manganese, and cobalt. However, the smoke may contain trace levels of other metals (such as lithium or copper) and particulate matter that can cause respiratory irritation. The thermal breakdown of the battery's electrolytes produces noxious and flammable gases. This includes hydrogen fluoride (HF) and other corrosive, fluorinated compounds.

Like any intense fire, it will generate carbon monoxide and toxic organic compounds from the burning plastics and internal casing components.

Depending upon winds, fire intensity, proximity to the fire, buoyancy of the fire plume, and number of modules burning, if you are near a BESS fire you may be asked to either shelter in place or evacuate.

CAUTION: All fires produces deadly combustion gasses. Fossil fuel storage fires do. A home fire does. Forest and grassland fires do. Natural gas and coal power plants do. If your home furnace gets a crack in the heat exchanger, the combustion gasses can kill you. Even your car produces deadly gasses from the combustion of gasoline. You must always exercise caution when in the presence of combustion, especially if you are in an enclosed area. 

Possible Tier 3F LFP Flammable BESS Fire Strategy:

• To greatly simplify emergency response efforts, if a non-immersed Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry is allowed, consider requiring just two market leading BESS manufacturers; Tesla Megapack or SunGrow PowerTitan 2.0 (or 3.0). Both of these manufacturers feature Let-It-Burn (LIB) technology which makes fire fighting efforts much less complicated, greatly reduces firefighting water consumption, and nearly eliminates the possibility of contaminated water from firefighting efforts. LIB spacing also ensures that should a module block ignite, it won't ignite other units or spread the fire to other structures. They also feature no-walk-in design, to protect emergency responders.

• Do not deviate from BESS manufacturers emergency response guidelines

• Water only; no foam or chemicals to be used in fire fighting efforts.

• BESS shall maintain a minimum 500-foot setback from dwellings, mobile homes, and cabins and comply with NFPA 855 requirements related to setbacks and buffers, whichever is greater.

Resources

🔵  Fisher Engineering: Fire analysis of Tesla Megapack 2

🔵  Assessment of Potential Impacts of Fires at BESS Facilities 2025

🔵  Elaine BESS -Fire Hazard and Risk Assessment Tesla Megapack

🔵  AFCA: BESS and Fire Risk -The Facts

🔵  LFP: The Chemistry That’s Ending EV Anxiety

🔵  Modeling battery hazards with confidence

🔵  Assessment of Home BESS Fires Compared to General House Fires

▶️  DIY LFP Battery Explosion! Is it Possible? a must watch! A raw cell with no BMS is massively overcharged to induce total destruction.

▶️  Will Prowse: LFP Battery Explosion Risk -What you NEED to know

▶️  Not all BESS are Safe: Two Fires, Two Outcomes

Your volunteer fire department is likely far more capable and dedicated than you may realize, as they already have to address a number of challenging situations throughout their coverage area. Fire fighters are very good at adapting to change and learning new skills.

The Tesla firefighting measures section, in the Tesla emergency response guide for firefighters, below, is only 1 page in length.

With that said, It's important for local fire departments to engage with BESS operators in their communities to learn about the facility and its safety features, as well as discuss any concerns or recommendations the department has relating to site design to improve response. Departments should also collaborate with the facility operators and other local emergency service agencies to conduct a hazard mitigation analysis and develop pre-incident and emergency response plans regarding the facility.

Each site may offer its own challenges and each fire department may utilize different tools or prefer different methods. Early and frequent engagement between BESS operators and firefighters can best serve the safety of the community.

Possible Tier 3F LFP Flammable BESS Fire Strategy:

• To greatly simplify emergency response efforts, if a non-immersed Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry is allowed, consider requiring just two market leading BESS manufacturers; Tesla Megapack or SunGrow PowerTitan 2.0 (or 3.0). Both of these manufacturers feature Let-It-Burn (LIB) technology which makes fire fighting efforts much less complicated, greatly reduces firefighting water consumption, and nearly eliminates the possibility of contaminated water from firefighting efforts. LIB spacing also ensures that should a module block ignite, it won't ignite other units or spread the fire to other structures. They also feature no-walk-in design, to protect emergency responders.

• Do not deviate from BESS manufacturers emergency response guidelines

• Water only; no foam or chemicals to be used in fire fighting efforts.

• BESS shall maintain a minimum 500-foot setback from dwellings, mobile homes, and cabins and comply with NFPA 855 requirements related to setbacks and buffers, whichever is greater.

Possible Tier 3N Non-Flammable BESS Fire Strategy:

• The fire danger with a non-flammable battery chemistry will come from standard electrical and transformer equipment, and fire-fighting procedures are well known for this category.

• Do not deviate from BESS manufacturers emergency response guidelines

• Water only; no foam or chemicals to be used in fire fighting efforts.

• BESS shall maintain a minimum 100-foot setback from dwellings, mobile homes, and cabins and comply with NFPA 855 requirements related to setbacks and buffers, whichever is greater.

Resources

🔵  BESS: A GROWING PRESENCE IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

🔵  Tesla: Industrial Lithium Battery Emergency Response Guide

🔵  Tesla Megapack Enhanced Safety Architecture

🔵  Sungrow PowerTitan Battery Emergency Response Guide

🔵  Sungrow: A Holistic Approach to Safety

🔵  Sungrow Achieves Success in the World’s Largest BESS Burn Test

🔵  First Responders Guide to Lithium-Ion BESS Incidents

🔵  AFCA: BESS and Fire Risk -The Facts

🔵  EPA: Considerations for Safe Installation & Incident Response

▶️  2 Tesla Megapacks Burned: Boulder City Fire

▶️  Tesla Megapack Emergency Response Video

While the current king of energy denisity, round-trip efficiency, cost, and number of existing installations is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry, contenders are lining up for a challenge. Some examples include:

EOS Indensity, Zink BESS
Manufacturer: "An ingenious combination of zinc chemistry, modular design, and AI-enabled software that forms the foundation of the Eos Indensity energy storage architecture."

EticaAG Legion C20, Immersed LFP BESS
Manufacturer: "Featuring LiquidShield™ Immersion Technology and HazGuard™ Toxic Gas Neutralization, it prevents battery fires, maintains consistent cell temperatures, and neutralizes toxic gases at the source for safety-critical environments."

Form Energy, Iron-Air BESS (reversible rusting)
Manufacturer: "Our batteries complement the function of lithium-ion batteries, allowing for an optimal balance of our technology and lithium-ion batteries to deliver a low-cost, clean, and reliable electric system year-round."

Invinity Energy Systems VS3, Flow Battery BESS
Manufacturer: "Self-contained and easy to deploy, they use proven vanadium redox flow technology to store energy in an aqueous solution that never degrades, even under continuous maximum power and depth of discharge cycling."

Why is regular old LFP Technology such as Tesla's MegaPack still the market leader?

Because it's well known, available, proven, efficient, and cost effective. However, if there is an application where fire prevention is the overriding factor, due to proximity to structures, then consider specifying one of these up and coming battery systems in the CUP process.

NO.

Due to the potential of water runoff from firefighting activities in these incidents, the consensus best practice today for response to a BESS fire (non-immersed Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry, and the fire is in the battery) is to spray a fog of cooling WATER (no foam or chemicals) on everything OTHER than the burning module to prevent the spread of the fire and protect surrounding areas and structures, including trees, brush, and any nearby buildings. The battery module is allowed to burn without intervention.

With this method, water is unlikely to pick up potential contaminants in any runoff. Think of it as a nice heavy rain on the areas that aren't burning.

Possible Tier 3F LFP Flammable BESS Fire Strategy:

• To greatly simplify emergency response efforts, if a non-immersed Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) chemistry is allowed, consider requiring just two market leading BESS manufacturers; Tesla Megapack or SunGrow PowerTitan 2.0 (or 3.0). Both of these manufacturers feature Let-It-Burn (LIB) technology which makes fire fighting efforts much less complicated, greatly reduces firefighting water consumption, and nearly eliminates the possibility of contaminated water from firefighting efforts. LIB spacing also ensures that should a module block ignite, it won't ignite other units or spread the fire to other structures. They also feature no-walk-in design, to protect emergency responders.

• Do not deviate from BESS manufacturers emergency response guidelines.

• Water only; no foam or chemicals to be used in fire fighting efforts.

• BESS shall maintain a minimum 500-foot setback from dwellings, mobile homes, and cabins and comply with NFPA 855 requirements related to setbacks and buffers, whichever is greater.

Resources

🔵  Assessment of Potential Impacts of Fires at BESS Facilities

🔵  BESS: FAQ on Fire Safety and Public Health

🔵  STUDIES OF BESS FIRES SHOW NO PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT

🔵  Groundwater Safety for Battery Energy Storage Systems

The answer is clearly no.

When you rely on fossil fuels, you're a customer for life. Your lifetime value to big oil is a BIG number.

Contrast that with solar energy, batteries, and an EV in your garage. With these, for the first time in modern history, you have the freedom to cut the cord and utilize the sun's energy to power your world, from the energy you produce, on your property.

If you were a big oil CEO, would you want to lose market share to a force you couldn't control? The war on renewables is really a war about market share.

BESS is the final piece of the puzzle needed to shift energy production to coincide with demand and take full advantage of low cost renewables. Due to minimal, but real, fire concerns, it makes an ideal target. The weapon? Doubt.

It starts with the funding of fossil fuel aligned think tanks, lobbying groups, strategy groups, out of state activists, advertising, and influencers.

Well placed social media amplifies the distortions and anger. Then good, well-meaning local folks pick up on the misinformation and are radicalized into action to ban renewable energy and BESS.

An example: Halstead KS

Halstead KS recently banned BESS for 10 years, due to the efforts of an extremely outspoken local group who based their opposition, in part, on this paper. The Google search for this paper returns the title of "LFP Batteries Are Dangerous, Say Research Scientists".

When one takes a look at the paper, something seems off. It looks more like a Word document than an actual scientific paper. But the author title is listed as Calvin Luther Martin, PhD, 1brownboat@gmail.com, February 24, 2025. A little strange, but Calvin has a PhD, so he must know what he's talking about, right?

Do some digging. Calvin's PhD is in History (1974). He runs a website called rivercitymalone.com, where you can read all about his attacks on renewable energy and data centers, among other things. He is behind mailings such as this attacking solar farms. He has been attacking renewable energy since at least 2009, and possibly much earlier.

There is an army of activists out there just like Calvin. Anything to do with renewable energy is attacked, in a myriad of different ways. Thanks to big oil money, these folks have a mountain of "facts", opinions, and "news" articles to base their anger on and have a built-in support network.

It's all about the market share.

Resources

🔵  How Misinformation Is Killing Grid Reliability

🔵  How fossil fuel interests are fighting to kill wind & solar farms

🔵  Climate Disinformation Database

🔵  Big Oil’s 3 Decade Plot to Kill America’s Clean Energy Revolution

🔵  Americans Show Overwhelmingly to Support BESS

🔵  Unveiling Big Oil's Campaign of Lies

🔵  AFCA: BESS and Fire Risk -The Facts

Q1

Small distributed grid, substation level grid, and CCI (Community, Commercial, Industrial) BESS

In general are seen as business infrastructure for the utility or business installing them. They won't be making PILOT payments, but will pay property taxes. They may or may not qualify for the Commercial, Industrial, Machinery and Equipment (CIME) property tax abatement, but that is unknown before the installation is put in service.

They most likely will pay sales tax, unless IRBs are issued or they are certified under the Kansas High-Performance Incentive Program. A big economic boost for the city/county is simply not in the cards at this small a scale.

Large grid scale BESS

Large grid scale BESS will pay property taxes. They may or may not qualify for the Commercial, Industrial, Machinery and Equipment (CIME) property tax abatement, but that is unknown before the installation is put in service.

They most likely will pay sales tax, unless IRBs are issued or they are certified under the Kansas High-Performance Incentive Program. Depending upon the project, they may be willing to negotiate a PILOT payment or contribute to the community with an incentive package of some sort.

Large grid scale BESS economic impact:

• Initial, during construction:

  • Constructions jobs/community hosting outside workers.

  • Local suppliers & subcontractors.

  • Possible infrastructure upgrades (roads, electrical grid, etc.).

• Ongoing:

  • Negotiated:

    • • Possible PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes).

      • Possible Community incentive package.

  • Potential lower energy costs (being able to store power and dispatch it on demand smooths the edges of peak demand times, which shelters ratepayers from enormous spikes in prices).

  • More stable grid (The system reliability benefits of BESS cannot be understated. Energy storage systems help stabilize the entire grid during extreme weather or power related needs, helping an entire region maintain grid stability)

  • Potential 1-2 new employees.

Q2

Upfront incentives to BESS projects

Federal: (many rules and 10 year clawback apply)

• Businesses installing BESS can receive a 6-30% tax credit on installation costs (minimum 5 kWh) through The Clean Electricity Investment Credit, Section 48E.

• Projects using U.S.-manufactured components can qualify for a 10% tax credit "add-on". Additional tax incentives are available for projects that serve low-income communities.

• BESS projects located in areas transitioning from fossil fuels (e.g., closed coal plants) can receive an additional 10% tax credit, boosting financial viability. NOTE: No designated areas exist in Reno County.

Local:

• Industrial Revenue Bonds may be issued to help avoid sales tax on the project.

• Local jurisdictions may provide property tax breaks or other incentives on a case by case basis.

NOTE: KS taxation guidelines as of late 2024 states that BESS attached to renewable energy systems (like wind or solar) does not qualify for the 10-year property tax exemption aimed at renewable electricity generation equipment.

Resources

🔵  Battery Storage Tax Credits: What’s Next

🔵  KS Dept. of Revenue: BESS Exemption Opinion

🔵  KS Power Alliance Testimony 2025: Property Tax Treatment HB2083

🔵  PILOT agreements -Tax predictability if battery storage system approved

🔵  New Mexico county issues $190 million revenue bond for Sun Lasso BESS

What's interesting about the noise videos the anti-everything people post about BESS is that you will never see a dB meter taking readings. It is always just video taken on their phone of the facility. While we're sure nobody would ever think to "set the volume to 11" for these videos in post, it does make one wonder.

Battery storage installations produce noise which comes primarily from cooling fans, HVAC systems, and inverters, with noise levels often ranging from 70 to 85 decibels (dBA) at a few feet from a module. Transformers can also produce a low frequency hum. While they are typically quiet during low-demand periods, a BESS can produce significant, sustained noise, during high-demand periods or hot weather.

Developers often use noise attenuation measures, such as acoustic barriers, sound-dampening enclosures, and optimized cooling controls to meet noise regulations, particularly when located near residential areas.

AND, regulators can and should define noise limits and testing requirements. For example, policymakers could set a 60 dBa noise limit at the property boundary. A sound study could be required before construction, and follow-up independent testing within 60 days of operations to confirm the facility meets the standard. dBc weighted testing could also be utilized for lower frequency emphasis, if desired.

Resources

🔵  BESS: Charged Up for Noise Control

🔵  Designing utility-scale batteries for community acceptance

🔵  Noise Management Strategies: Large-Scale BESS Projects in Australia

NFPA 855, version 2026, is updated, comprehensive, and specifically addresses BESS and lithium battery safety. It is the GOLD standard for BESS construction.

NFPA 800 is the start of a comprehensive framework that addresses the full battery lifecycle for many battery chemistries, not just lithium. It will address lead-acid, akaline, Nickel Metal Hydride, etc. As batteries become essential to modern life, in all forms, it is evident that we need a framework to address their full life cycle and impact on society. NFPA will provide holistic, end-to-end guidance from manufacturing and raw materials through handling, packaging, shipping, transportation, installation, operation, recycling, and disposal.

While the forthcoming NFPA 800 is currently being finalized as a provisional standard, this does not halt construction of BESS in ANY way. The draft scope of NFPA 800 even intentionally DEFERS stationary installed BESS to the established EXISTING rules in NFPA 855.

BESS construction continues safely by relying on established, currently enforceable codes and strict system-level testing. The life cycle gap left by an unfinished NFPA 800 is actively covered by various existing safety regulations and evaluation standards:

NFPA 855: The foundational, actively enforced Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. It dictates minimum requirements for hazard mitigation analysis, fire detection, spacing, suppression, and more.

UL 9540 and UL 9540A: The critical testing method used to evaluate thermal runaway behavior at the cell, module, and unit levels to prevent fire propagation.

Local Oversight: City and county governments enforce local fire and building codes to ensure that BESS projects meet strict community safety margins before any facility is approved.

Resources

🔵  NFPA 855 -2023 Complete Edition

🔵  NFPA 855 Changes in the 2026 Edition

🔵  Getting to Know NFPA 800

🔵  BESS Codes and Standards: What You Need to Know

A utility-scale BESS typically requires between 2 to 30 acres of land. The exact footprint depends on the project's energy capacity, battery configuration, and local zoning setback requirements.

A rough industry benchmark is about 1,000 square feet of actual battery footprint per megawatt-hour (MWh) of storage capacity. This yields a density of roughly 20 to 40 MWh of energy storage per acre.

While the physical battery containers (which are often the size of 20-foot or 40-foot shipping containers) are quite compact, developers require extra space for access roads, transformer yards, perimeter fencing, and mandatory setback buffers.

A smaller, community-scale 10 MWh project can be built on as little as 0.5 to 1 acre of land. Mid-size to large utility-scale plants (e.g., a 100 MW or 150 MW installation) usually require 5 to 20 acres for the entire facility.

Our county isn’t lacking in land. 

Plus, we have elected leaders and planning and zoning folks whose job it is to make sure our county isn't overwhelmed by any one entity.

AND, property rights matter. It is the landowners' land, and the landowners' decision to participate or not. 

Resources

🔵  Land BESS Projects: What's Different from Solar

🔵  What landowners need to know about utility-scale BESS leases

🔵  Should You Lease Your Land for an Energy Storage Project?

🔵  ‘No’ to BESS Means ‘Yes’ to What?

Reno County is constantly looking for ways to save money and reduce budgets. Revenue neutral is the buzzword, as citizens find property valuations ever increasing, with higher tax bills a result.

Utility scale BESS is a part of an enhanced and upgraded grid. A ban on BESS would have an economic impact on our county, and also send a message to companies in general that we are not "Open for Business". It could also affect our electric rates.

If we want more economic growth, and to increase our county income and reduce taxes for residents, then we need responsible, effective, and fair BESS regulations to encourage investments in our grid and to increase our tax base.