Update published on the 2nd of February 2024
We have sought further clarification from Key Capture Energy regarding their Comfort, Texas energy storage project. Currently awaiting their response, we specifically inquired about the presence of internal fire suppression systems within their storage systems and the general duration of battery storage fires based on industry experiences.
While awaiting their response, our research uncovered an incident in Warwick, NY, where a battery storage facility caught fire on June 26th. The aftermath revealed that hydrogen gas produced during thermal runaway burned off potential toxins, potentially making such incidents cleaner than other industrial fires.
Addressing concerns about potential wildfires sparked by the battery facility, it’s crucial to note that the project includes firebreak measures. Historically, wildfires in the area have been caused by human activities like welding near dry grass or catalytic converters igniting dry grass. The comparison of a battery storage facility to a nuclear plant’s impact on a 20 to 100 mile radius is unfounded.
Additionally, questions arose about employees in Houston and potential hazards. It’s essential to consider that Houston already houses oil refineries and chemical plants with the potential for prolonged fires.
The discussion on lithium leaching fields prompted a comparison with fracking, emphasizing the toxicity of fracking liquid pools. This raises the need to weigh the environmental impact of lithium mining against oil fracking.
In concluding this update, we challenge the community to consider whether they prefer an energy storage facility or an oil power plant.
Additionally, we question if OW Lee, a Canadian company and Texas trading partner, received a similar tax amendment. Advocating for consistent legal application, we stress the importance of uniformity in the application of the law.
As we await Key Capture Energy’s response, we encourage thoughtful consideration of the presented information.
Published on the 15th of January 2024
VisitComfort is a website and Facebook page that promotes local businesses and attractions to the residents and visitors of our town. One of the issues that we want to inform you about is the battery storage project that Key Capture Energy wants to build in Comfort. In this post, we will explain what battery storage is, how it could benefit our community, and what questions we have for Key Capture.
Battery storage is a technology that can store excess electricity from the grid and release it when needed. It is like a water tower that can balance the water pressure and supply in the system. Battery storage can help improve the reliability and efficiency of the grid, especially when the demand for electricity fluctuates. Battery storage can also protect our appliances and devices from power surges and outages.
Key Capture Energy is a company that specializes in building large-scale battery storage systems across the country. They have proposed to construct a 100-megawatt battery storage facility in Comfort, which would be connected to the power grid. According to Key Capture, this project would create jobs, reduce emissions, and support the energy transition.
However, before we can fully support this project, we need to know more about its safety and impact on our town. We reached out to Key Capture with some questions, but they did not respond to us, even though they invited the San Antonio Express News to their Austin facility for a tour. Here are the questions we asked them:
– What kind of fire suppression system do you have, and what is your disaster plan?
– How many long-term jobs will this project create for our town?
– What kind of battery chemistry will you use in the batteries?
– What are the benefits and risks of this project for the town of Comfort?
– In case of a fire, what are the potential hazards for the people and the environment in Comfort?
– If the grid fails again during a winter storm, will your battery storage be able to power the town, and for how long?
We think these are reasonable questions that deserve answers. We hope that Key Capture will be more transparent and responsive to our inquiries. We also encourage you to attend the public meeting that will be held on January 29, 2024, at the Comfort Middle School Cafeteria, 216 High Street, Comfort, TX, to learn more about this project and voice your opinions.
We believe that battery storage is a promising technology that can help us achieve a cleaner and more resilient energy future. But we also want to make sure that it is done safely and responsibly and that it serves the best interests of our town. Let’s work together to make Comfort a better place for everyone.