City of Dunkirk residents need to be a part of the discussion regarding a recent meeting of the Chautauqua County Planning Board. Last week, board members reviewed initial plans for a 250 megawatt grid-connected battery storage system, to be placed on West Seventh Street in the city.

According to the application, the project will be a simple layout of battery containers connected to a new substation. The battery cells are contained in racks arranged within containers (each about the size of a shipping container) on a concrete slab. The containers are separated according to the specifications of the manufacturer and national design standards for safety. The containers are not buildings and are designed so that they cannot be occupied or entered. The site will include an internal road system and an access driveway to Brigham Road for regular maintenance.

If approved, it could become the largest such system of its size in the county. This led to some questions regarding safety due to the proximity of the high school and the current Brooks-TLC Hospital System.

Planning Board Chairman Doug Bowen said he believes a full environmental impact study should be required for the project.

“A 250-megawatt battery energy storage system is huge. I’m curious to know if the fire commissioners or the fire chief of the city of Dunkirk have been reached out for comment,” he said. “Is the developer going to provide specialized equipment to handle any emergency that could come up?” he said.

Bowen also noted if there happens to be a fire there, he is worried massive evacuations would need to take place. “You’d be evacuating the city of Dunkirk,” he said.

In any case, the Planning Board discussion was the tip of the iceberg. Moving forward, residents in that location — and throughout the city — need to be part of the process.

Bowen’s concerns, also, must be answered before any decisions are made.