We, the undersigned residents of Warwick and the surrounding community, are calling for the permanent shutdown of all three Convergent Energy and Power lithium-ion battery storage facilities in Warwick, two located on school district property (Route 1) and one in the Village of Warwick (Church Street). 

On December 19, 2025, a lithium-ion battery fire occurred at the Church Street facility. In the days following the incident, officials confirmed that hydrogen cyanide was detected in air samples collected during the fire. Hydrogen cyanide is a highly toxic gas that poses serious health risks, even at low concentrations.

These facilities are located near homes and even on school property, and residents do not want a hazardous energy storage site operating in close proximity to where our families live, learn, and gather. No community should be asked to accept this level of risk—especially when the facility was not authorized to be operating in the first place.

According to public statements by Mayor Michael Newhard, the facility should not have been operational at the time of the fire. Convergent Energy and Power did not hold a valid certificate of compliance and failed to notify the Village that the system had been activated and fully charged. Operating a lithium-ion battery facility without proper authorization represents a serious breach of safety and public trust.

This incident follows a troubling and well-documented pattern and SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO RESUME OPERATIONS:

• In 2023, a fire occurred at another Convergent battery facility on Route 1, located on school district property in the Town of Warwick
• A simultaneous overheating event occurred at the Church Street location that same year
  Village officials raised safety concerns and requested additional precautions, which were reportedly dismissed by the company

Lithium-ion battery fires are uniquely dangerous. They can burn for extended periods, cannot be extinguished with water, and may release toxic gases that evolve over time. Point-in-time air monitoring does not fully capture the risks associated with prolonged exposure, particularly for residents, students, and first responders.

Warwick residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and confident that facilities operating near schools and neighborhoods are fully compliant, transparent, and accountable. The Convergent facility:

• Operated without proper authorization
• Has a documented history of fires and overheating events
• Released a confirmed toxic gas into the surrounding area

We respectfully demand that the Village of Warwick, in coordination with county and state authorities, take all necessary legal and regulatory steps to permanently shut down this facility and prohibit any future battery energy storage operations at this site.

Public safety, environmental protection, and the well-being of our children and families must come first.