Instead of looking for a more appropriate piece of land  for their battery project,  On Energy has elected to file a lawsuit against Austin County and the Commissioners Court for delaying and then denying a permit to construct a new battery facility "outside of Bellville" (the driveway and road access to the property is through the City of Bellville and no approved). The suit was filed on June 10, 2025. Please recall the batteries have already been purchased by On Energy and are sitting in their warehouse In Houston awaiting a new home. 

On Energy has also spent the past two months calling many Austin County landowners (outside the City Limits) looking for third-party leases on properties for additional BESS projects.

Salvatore Monopoli of On Energy said "The county doesn't have the right to just say 'it's a public health concern' and therefore you can't build it."

Perhaps Sal does not understand the role of county politicians, which is to represent the will of the people that elected them. That is exactly what they are doing.