The New York City Council’s Committee on Fire and Emergency Management held a hearing at City Hall on Tuesday, October 28th, to discuss Intro 354, which proposes to utilize city-owned lots for battery energy storage systems (BESS). This bill was introduced last year by Council member Sandy Nurse and co-sponsored by 39 other Council members.
4th-year apprentice Katy Lacerra, Safety Director Neil Skeahan, and Business Representative Tom Maguire each testified in support of an amendment to the bill that would add language to mandate a PLA for the installation, maintenance, and operation of BESS equipment built on city-owned property. The Climate Jobs New York coalition also testified in favor of the amended bill.
The main contention against Intro 354 appears to be the siting of BESS equipment near residential neighborhoods, and community residents have asked to have BESS zoned for industrial siting. Committee chairwoman Joann Ariola said they will review the PLA language amendment, as she highlighted Local 3’s commitment to New York City’s clean-energy economy.
