Dear Administrator Zeldin, Secretary Wright, and Congressman Huizenga, 

We are writing to you as a concerned residents of Blendon Township, Michigan, to urgently request your support in halting the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility, known as KCE MI-4, developed by Key Capture Energy (KCE). This project, slated for construction on approximately 12-14 acres at 8284 88th Avenue in our township, represents a significant threat to our community's environment, economy, and way of life.  As leaders in the federal agencies responsible for environmental protection and energy policy, your intervention could be pivotal in preventing this ill-advised development, especially considering the current administration's focus on reducing government overreach and prioritizing reliable, domestic energy solutions. 

First and foremost, there is an overwhelming supermajority of residents in Blendon Township who oppose this facility. Recent community meetings, including an open house hosted by KCE on July 29, 2025 and the township meeting on August 18, 2025, have highlighted widespread pushback from locals concerned about safety, property values, and quality of life. This opposition is not fringe; it reflects the unified voice of our rural community, which values its agricultural heritage and peaceful surroundings over unproven green technologies. 

Blendon Township is home to a large aquifer system that supplies drinking water to thousands of residents and supports vital agricultural operations. The introduction of a large-scale BESS facility, with its potential for chemical leaks, fires, or thermal runaway events, poses an unacceptable risk to this critical water resource. Our township's economy relies heavily on farming, and any contamination or disruption from battery-related incidents could devastate local agriculture, leading to long-term soil degradation and economic losses for family-owned farms that have been operational for generations. 

Furthermore, these BESS facilities are projected to become obsolete and worthless within 10 years due to rapid advancements in technology and the short lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. Investing in such short-term solutions would irreversibly destroy productive farmland, converting it into industrial sites that offer minimal long-term benefits while imposing permanent environmental harm. This is not sustainable development; it is a wasteful sacrifice of irreplaceable resources for fleeting energy storage gains. 

Compounding these issues is the egregious overreach by the State of Michigan, through passing of PA233 in 2024, which has implemented policies that override local townships and citizens of their authority to reject such facilities. Under recent state laws, communities like ours feel powerless, forcing unwanted projects upon us in the name of broader "clean energy" mandates. This top-down approach exemplifies government overreach at its worst, undermining local control, and prioritizing corporate interests over the will of the people.  As federal officials, we urge you to leverage your positions to challenge or override these state-level impositions, perhaps through federal environmental reviews, safety guidelines, or withholding of incentives. 

The citizens of Blendon Township, MI respectfully ask that you take immediate action to support our efforts in rejecting the KCE MI-4 project. This could include issuing public statements highlighting the environmental and safety risks, conducting a federal review of the site's suitability given its proximity to aquifers and farmland, or advising on ways to restore local control over energy infrastructure decisions. Your leadership in rolling back burdensome green initiatives aligns perfectly with our cause, and your assistance would send a strong message against unnecessary industrialization of rural America.   Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to your prompt response.