Group Of Tewksbury Residents Concerned About 'Battery Farm'

This statement is from Allen Capone and other concerned Tewksbury residents.

TEWKSBURY, MA — Groups of Emerald Court residents will be staging a demonstration on Saturday, April 26, in protest to the planned installation of a lithium-ion battery “farm” in Tewksbury.

The protesters will display signs from 9:30 until 2:30 in the area of Main and Pleasant streets and will describe to observers the dangers of planting nearly 16 million pounds of lithium-ion batteries near residential neighborhoods.

A Virginia company, Hillman Energy, would be planting this “farm.” Lithium-ion battery storage areas have a history of catching fire and burning for days because standard firefighting methods are often inadequate in extinguishing these conflagrations. Areas far from the site can be subjected to acrid smoke and toxic fumes.

Allen Capone, a resident of Emerald Court, addressed the town Select Board’s recent meeting to voice his community’s strong opposition to the proposed battery storage facility on Hillman Street. Capone highlighted four major concerns: safety, economic impact, logistics, and environmental effects on both the nearby communities and the broader town.

He highlighted potential fire hazards, particularly due to the facility’s proximity to a vulnerable senior population with limited evacuation routes, and emphasized that if a fire did break out at the Hillman Street site, "We would expect loss of life in the senior community."

Economically, he warned that the facility could lead to property devaluation, affecting residents who depend on home equity for future care needs. Logistical concerns included increased traffic and congestion on Washington Street, while environmental worries focused on potential groundwater contamination, air pollution, and noise levels exceeding 80-90 decibels continuously.

Capone urged the board to work with the developer to find an alternative location and said residents are prepared to defend their rights through legal and media channels if necessary.

This press release is from a concerned citizen group. The views expressed here are the author's own.