❗️❗️ This petition was copied and pasted with permission from an older petition that was made by John Aspinall for the Travis BESS location - please ask permission before coping and making a new petition. ❗️❗️

**UPDATE - RALLY AGAINST NINEDOTS BESS FACILITY. March 15th - 12PM. On the corner of Manor & Tillman.**

**UPDATE - Griffin Fossella and our Borough President, Vito Fossella are having a press conference to oppose the development of energy storage facilities on staten Island. Saturday, March 15th at 11:00 AM on the corner of Littlefield ave and Hylan Blvd. Please show up and show support as he is trying to fight this on behalf of us! **

**Community Board 2 meeting set for 7pm on Tuesday, February 18th. Meeting is located at JCC on Manor Road. I strongly encourage ALL to join in this fight. There is strength in our numbers.**

**UPDATE - Press conference tomorrow, Monday, February 10th on the corner of Manor rd & Tillman st at 11am with borough president, Vito Fossella. If you can make it, please stop by to show that we do not want this Battery Energy Storage Site built near our homes and businesses**

As concerned residents of Staten Island, NY, we urge you to join us in demanding an immediate halt to the setup and installation of the lithium battery sites (BESS). This petition is personal to all of us who call this community our home because we understand the potential dangers associated with such a facility located so close to our residences. The community was not made aware of this site being built until last minute and we do not approve.

Imagine waking up one day to find your peaceful neighborhood engulfed in flames. The fear and panic that would ensue are unimaginable. Unfortunately, this nightmare could become a reality for us if the proposed lithium battery site is allowed to be built. This site is against multiple homes in a vacant parking lot where 14 families reside. This is not including the surrounding homes across the street.

Our community already faces numerous challenges, and adding a potentially hazardous facility right next door only exacerbates these concerns. We believe that safety should always be prioritized over convenience or profit. There are currently over a dozen sites about to be built on Staten Island.

Reasons for Concern:

1. Proximity to Residents: The proposed location for this lithium battery site is dangerously close to residential areas. In case of any accidents or fires, our homes and our families would be at great risk.

2. Potential Fire Hazards: Lithium batteries have been known to pose significant fire risks due to their chemical composition and high energy density. A single incident can quickly escalate into a catastrophic event that endangers lives and destroys properties.  The FDNY has repeatedly warned that lithium-ion battery fires can ignite explosively and spread rapidly. The fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish.

A lithium-ion battery energy storage system site fire in Warwick, N.Y., burned and smoldered for more than a week last year because firefighters couldn’t put it out. As of October 23, there had been 222 lithium-ion battery fires, resulting in 88 injuries and four deaths

3. Lack of Isolation: Establishing such facilities near densely populated areas contradicts common sense safety measures observed by responsible industries worldwide. It is crucial that these sites are situated away from residential zones where potential risks can be minimized.

4. Environmental Impact: In addition to fire hazards, lithium batteries also present environmental concerns due to their toxic components which may contaminate soil and water sources if not handled properly during storage or disposal processes. Smoke generated from lithium-ion fires is highly toxic, and it’s a tremendous environmental concern.

We firmly believe that it is within our rights as residents and concerned citizens to demand a safer alternative for the location of these lithium battery sites. We understand the importance of renewable energy and support its development, but not at the expense of our community's safety.

Therefore, we respectfully request that the relevant authorities reconsider their decision and find an isolated location away from residential areas for the setup and installation of this lithium battery site. Our lives and our home should never be compromised for the sake of convenience or profit.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for our community's safety and demanding responsible decision-making from those in power. Together, let us ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear – no lithium battery sites on Staten Island!

Here are some following articles based on BESS Sites -

Massive fires in Brooklyn & Queens caused by lithium-ion batteries, FDNY rules - CBS New York https://search.app/ret9oyMwQeUQLt5X8

More Controversial Battery Energy Storage Sites Coming to Staten Island - Fire Engineering: Firefighter Training and Fire Service News, Rescue https://search.app/X27j81Z8WukhnS2R7

Lithium-ion battery fires continue to kill New Yorkers https://search.app/WE9Smsw55eD3Ship7

‘Out of control’: Battery energy storage site catches fire in California, forcing mass evacuation, reports say - silive.com https://search.app/ADaz4pqhxYPpzKCz9

‘Largest’ battery storage site in NYC will soon rise in this Staten Island neighborhood - silive.com https://search.app/t4oaznw8FVBuXRkWA

Map details locations of battery sites on Staten Island: See if one is planned for your block - silive.com https://search.app/z3LhbHQ3wFH5JtHE9

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