Community Statement to the Thurston County
Commissioners
Subject: Opposition to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sargent Road & 183rd Ave – Request for Immediate Moratorium

We, the residents of South Thurston County, respectfully submit this statement to express our serious concerns regarding the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility at the intersection of Sargent Road and 183rd Avenue. This project, if approved at this location, poses significant risks to public safety, environmental health, and the long-term wellbeing of our community.

Public Safety Risks Battery energy storage systems rely on large-scale lithium-ion technology, which carries inherent fire and explosion risks. Across the country, BESS facilities have experienced thermal runaway events, resulting in fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish, toxic smoke releases, and prolonged emergency response operations. Our rural location is not equipped with specialized firefighting infrastructure, hazardous material containment systems, or evacuation capacity needed to respond to such an incident. Placing this facility near homes, families, farms, and
community infrastructure creates unacceptable life-safety risks for residents and first responders alike.

Environmental Harm A BESS failure event can release toxic chemicals into soil, air, and groundwater. South Thurston County’s environment is defined by agricultural lands, wetlands, wildlife corridors, and aquifer systems that serve local residents. Contamination from battery materials, fire suppressants, and runoff would not only damage ecosystems but could permanently impact drinking water supplies and farmland viability. The environmental consequences would not be temporary—they would be long-lasting and potentially irreversible.

Land Use and Community Character The Sargent Road and 183rd area is not an industrial zone—it is a rural, residential, and agricultural community. Industrial-scale energy infrastructure is fundamentally incompatible with the character, land use planning goals, and zoning intent of this area. This project would set a dangerous precedent for future industrial development in rural residential zones, undermining community trust and long-term land use stability.

Property Values and Quality of Life Facilities of this nature negatively affect property values, increase noise and visual pollution, and create constant fear and uncertainty for families living nearby. Residents should not be forced to live with industrial risk infrastructure next to their homes for the benefit of outside energy markets.

Call for a Moratorium
We formally request that the Thurston County Commissioners enact an immediate moratorium on the permitting, siting, and development of battery energy storage systems in unincorporated and rural residential areas of South Thurston
County.

A moratorium is necessary to allow:
● Development of clear safety standards and siting criteria
● Environmental impact assessment frameworks
● Emergency response and fire suppression planning
● Public engagement and transparency, hold in-person hearings and provide adequate notice to the community
● Zoning and land use policy alignment

This is not opposition to clean energy—it is a demand for responsible planning, public safety, environmental protection, and community respect. Until comprehensive regulations and protections are in place, no BESS facility should be approved in rural residential communities.

We ask our elected officials to stand with the citizens they serve, protect our lives, protect our land, and preserve the future of South Thurston County.

Respectfully submitted,
Citizens of South Thurston County