In light of strong legislative and community opposition, Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo, Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, New York City Councilman David Carr andAssemblyman Mike Reilly are thrilled to announce that New Leaf Energy has withdrawn its application to install a Battery Energy Storage Site on the grounds of Our Lady of Pity on Richmond Avenue, which is surrounded by six schools

Pirozzolo said, “I want to thank our local leaders for stepping forward to oppose this. I especially want to thank Congresswoman Malliotakis, Councilman Carr, Assemblyman Reilly and other community leaders for their passion and efforts to defeat this project. Although these facilities are beneficial to our distribution grid, due to the risk of fire and exposure to toxic chemicals, they have NO place in school or residential zones. This project lacked concern for public safety and common sense, and my office will always stand up to protect the children and neighborhoods of Staten Island. I will introduce legislation at the state level to prevent these situations from occurring in sensitive zones in the future.”

“While the battery storage facilities may be the future of energy infrastructure, they don’t belong in residential communities. The plan to place one in Our Lady of Pity’s parking lot was inappropriate. I’m pleased New Leaf has rescinded its proposal and I will continue to support Assemblyman Pirozzolo’s efforts to stop other potentially hazardous placement in our community,” said Malliotakis.

Carr added, “Battery Energy Storage Systems are an important new technology that could enhance our energy infrastructure, but we have to find the right places to site them. The community made it clear that this was not the right place, and I credit New Leaf and Our Lady of Pity for heeding their voice. I especially want to thank Assemblyman Pirozzolo for hitting the ground running on day one and being a champion for Bulls Head and the neighborhood’s concerns.’

"If there's one thing that stands true about development of any kind on Staten Island, it's that the local community must have a seat at the table from the very beginning. I hope New Leaf and other companies that are looking to be involved in this emerging market prioritize the community's input before closing on deals to place future battery sites," said Reilly. "It's clear that under current building regulations, these sites can be constructed without community input or much oversight, which is why I plan on co-sponsoring Assemblyman Pirozzolo's legislation to prohibit the placement of these sites in the heart of residential communities, and especially near our schools."