On Wednesday, February 15^th, 2023, New York State Senator Andrew Lanza (R/C-Mid Island/South Shore) & Assemblyman Sam Pirozzolo (R/C-Mid Island/North Shore) announced the introduction of legislation to prohibit the installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within Staten Island.

“In response to the rightful community backlash regarding BESS sites being installed in residential and school zones, Senator Andrew Lanza and I are proud to announce legislation to prohibit the siting or operation of these machines in residential or school zones on Staten Island,” said Assemblyman Pirozzolo. “While I firmly believe that this type of energy-technology is the future, the implementation has to be practical and responsible. Placing a large, sophisticated machine, filled with potentially explosive lithium-ion batteries, in residential or school communities is unacceptable. The fires caused by these batteries typically cannot be extinguished because of the presence of harsh chemical toxins, increasing the hazard and potential damage.

“At the end of the day, the terms ‘classroom’ and ‘blast-radius’ should never, ever be in the same sentence. I want to thank Senator Andrew Lanza for carrying this legislation in the State Senate. I look forward to seeing the passage of this bill that puts Staten Island families and communities first.”

Senator Andrew Lanza said “We oppose the Battery Energy Storage Sites being constructed in residential neighborhoods near homes and schools in Staten Island. They are unsightly and potentially dangerous and were begun without community input or concern for Staten Islanders. Furthermore, these schemes will lead to increased electric costs. I join Assemblyman Pirozzolo in opposition and thank him for his leadership on the issue.”

The full text of the legislation can be found here: https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?bn=A03297