Kenosha County statements on Wheatland Battery Energy Storage System application

Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman today released the following statement on Robin Energy Storage LLC's Sept. 30 filing of an application with the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to construct a 200-megawatt battery energy storage facility in the Town of Wheatland:

“I am disappointed that Robin Energy has decided to sidestep our countywide moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems by filing its application with the state. I stand with the people of the Town of Wheatland and other Kenosha County residents in opposition to this project.”

Kerkman added, “While we have not yet had the opportunity to review the application in detail, it is my understanding that the storage system is not going to supply new power to the residents of Kenosha County or otherwise impact power rates. I don’t believe day trading of power ultimately addresses the need for additional power generation, and I hear and appreciate the concerns of residents in the area.”

Kenosha County Board Chairman Mark Nordigian and Supervisor Erin Decker also released the following joint statement:

"We are disappointed that Robin Energy Storage has now submitted its application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission seeking approval to move forward with its proposed battery energy storage facility in the Town of Wheatland. The application, submitted on September 30, comes after the company withdrew its local applications following opposition at the local level. The proposed project is a 200-megawatt battery energy storage system on agricultural land in Wheatland, and the Town of Wheatland has made its opposition clear.

"The Kenosha County Board has also made clear that this issue warrants careful consideration. On May 19, the County Board voted unanimously, 22-0, to impose a 12-month moratorium on consideration of new battery energy storage permits and zoning approvals while the county evaluates these facilities and their potential impacts. The Town of Wheatland has likewise formally called on Wisconsin lawmakers to establish stronger statewide standards for large-scale battery energy storage projects.

"The concerns we have heard from residents in Wheatland are serious and include questions about fire safety, emergency response, environmental impacts, agricultural land use, and the long-term effects of placing a large-scale industrial energy facility in this location. Those concerns deserve to be fully considered. While we have not yet had the opportunity to review Robin Energy’s newly submitted application in detail, we believe the Public Service Commission should give meaningful consideration to the concerns raised by the Town of Wheatland, its residents, and local officials.

"We stand with the people of Wheatland who have made their position clear. We will continue to listen to residents, work with the Town and our colleagues on the County Board, and advocate for a process in which the voices of the people who live closest to this proposed facility are heard and given serious consideration."

More information about the Robin Energy application, including links to state filings, is available on the Utility Infrastructure Projects page on the Kenosha County website.

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