Austin County Stop BESS Petition

The City of Bellville has already voted no against BESS. The Austin County Commissioners Court unanimously voted against BESS 4-0 on February 14, 2025.  

On.Energy replied:

"I am writing personally to follow up on our legal counsel's demand letter regarding the County's denial of the drainage permit for On Energy's Badger Clean Energy Project...As stated, if the County does not take corrective action, On Energy is prepared to pursue all available legal remedies, including injunctive and declaratory relief, damages and recovery of attorney's fees...We...would strongly prefer to resolve this matter without court intervention."  Sincerely, Salvatore Minopoli, President, On.Energy [Emphasis mine]

Our community is under an imminent threat. A BESS facility has the potential for disaster that our small volunteer fire department would likely struggle to handle.

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, while largely safe under normal circumstances, pose a high risk while burning. They can cause severe fires that produce toxic gases. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), these fires are challenging to extinguish and can reignite even after the fire is initially doused. The NFPA recommends keeping such storage units at a safe distance from populated areas.

This facility’s proposed locations are a tangible threat to the safety and wellbeing of our families, children and livelihood. Our community’s voice must be heard. We must put a stop to these dangerous projects taking root in our neighborhoods and small towns.

Please help us safeguard Bellville, Austin County, and our neighbors and children’s future by insisting that the authorities immediately halt the proposed lithium iron phosphate battery storage facility projects. Your signature can help ensure our safety, peace, and wellbeing. 

The fire danger from these batteries is real. Why on earth would anyone want a battery storage facility to be built in a densely populated area with families, children, businesses and schools? This is a ridiculous plan which could cost innocent people their lives, homes and businesses. Please help us halt BESS in Austin County!

So we can take out our wallets for a lawsuit, accept the illegal and unacceptale behavior of these non-Texas interlopers here to make money at your expense, or fight. This petition is part of the fight. Please join us to stop BESS in our county.

We are setting a precedent for BESS in Texas. Check our ERCOT (currently Texas only) daily fuel mix grid here, as it is very interesting: https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboard