STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As concerns continue to grow over a proposed battery energy storage facility in Tottenville, Councilmember Frank Morano is proposing new legislation intended to strengthen safety oversight and transparency requirements for such systems across New York City.
“As these battery storage facilities continue to be built across our city, including right here on Staten Island, we cannot rely on blind trust or internal monitoring alone,” Morano noted in a press release. “This legislation is about common sense – real oversight, independent verification, and full transparency for the public.”
The legislation would require the operators of large outdoor battery storage facilities to provide the FDNY with live, continuous access to critical system data, including real-time monitoring of conditions that could signal potential safety risks. It would also mandate annual inspections by independent, qualified engineers not affiliated with the facility’s owner or operator, with the results submitted to city agencies and made publicly available…