Skip to content

Developers must become ‘a bit of a firefighter, sound expert, and light expert’: Addressing BESS safety and community opposition

63
Academic
Chimera Difficulty Score
a synthesis of Flesch-Kincaid, Coleman-Liau, SMOG, and Dale-Chall readability metrics
At a recent industry event hosted by market research firm Wood Mackenzie, energy storage experts discussed their approaches to public engagement, especially around addressing fire and other safety concerns. The panel included Terry Schroeder from utility DTE Energy, Joel Baduna from BESS developer Key Capture Energy, Emma Burke from owner-operator Pattern Energy, and Marci Palmstrom from IPP esVol...
The discussion on energy storage public engagement reveals a strategic shift in how developers approach community relations, emphasizing transparency, early engagement, and technical expertise. The strongest version of this narrative highlights the industry’s proactive efforts to address legitimate safety concerns, particularly fire risks, through established standards and operational safeguards. Developers are increasingly recognizing that community trust is built through consistent, informed d...