There is a BATTERY STORAGE SITE (BESS) slated for Pembroke. It has already been approved by the Planning Board.  You can see both Planning Board meetings below.

If you've been paying attention to Duxbury, they are fighting tooth and nail against this Maura Healey Mandate.  Ken Sweezey has been working hard at the State House to represent opposition to this issue. However, Pembroke has just APPROVED IT without opposition.  This is like the MBTA issue all over again.  WE need your help.

What happened :

• On Sept 22, the Planning Board approved six large battery units with transformers at 48 Schoosett St (near homes and wetlands, North River).

• The decision was filed Sept 30, which triggers a 20-day appeal window.

• I’m appealing to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) because a stand-alone battery facility isn’t listed as an allowed use in the Residence A or Business B districts, and it isn’t “solar PV” under our bylaw. If the developer claims it’s “accessory,” that determination belongs with the ZBA—and requires findings and (likely) a special permit.

• Beyond zoning, critical safety documents are still missing from the public record (e.g., product/chemistry, UL 9540/9540A testing, Hazard Mitigation Analysis, gas/deflagration & HF plume modeling, firewater containment, Emergency Response Plan signed by PFD).

Why this matters:

• Public safety: Battery fires are rare but can produce toxic smoke and flammable gases. We need proven ventilation/deflagration controls and a signed response plan before anything proceeds.  I am proposing that it not proceed at all.

• Environmental protection: Firewater can carry contaminants to catch basins/wetlands without proper containment.

• Good governance: The ZBA should decide whether this use is even allowed (or needs a special permit) before site work moves forward.

• Fun fact -The Morse Engineering peer review letter states "the Fire Department’s procedure, if there is a battery fire, will be to let it burn and not utilize water services on the batteries themselves."  (see email responses, #2),  A battery fire can produce nasty smoke and contaminated water. Fire crews may choose to control the scene instead of dousing the battery. That’s exactly why we want a clear plan, air-gas monitoring/venting, and on-site water containment—before this gets built near homes and the North River.

What I’m asking from anyone who cares:

1. Partner on potential litigation, signage or education to the community.

   • I've already begun collecting money.  If the ZBA allows the site plan to continue, we will need representation. 

   • Again, if the appeal doesn't go our way, we will need to make signs, social media posts and inform the community

2. Show up / speak up at the ZBA hearing currently scheduled for December 15th at Town Hall.

   • We’ll keep comments simple and respectful: Ideally, I'd like this not to be built.  But also, if it is built, we need proper use under the bylaw and battery-specific safety conditions.

3. Optional: brief letters to the ZBA (even 3–5 sentences help). Contact Sue Glauben at the Planning Board and she will forward your emails to the ZBA:  Sglauben@townofpembrokemass.org or click here for prefilled, editable email.

   • Focus on: (a) this is not solar PV; (b) require UL 9540/9540A + HMA + ventilation/deflagration controls + firewater containment + signed ER plan before any operation. Ask ZBA not to allow it!  

I am also collecting donations for outreach.  I am opening a separate bank account at Rockland Trust specificially for this purpose.  Donations are not tax-deductible. Funds will be used for the ZBA appeal and related outreach.  Please reach out for more information.

Thank you for backing this. The specific mandate being used is the following (and I'm not sure it even applies here, since the scope of this project is too small (but still dangerous):  Chapter 239 of the Acts of 2024 — “An Act Promoting a Clean Energy Grid, Advancing Equity, and Protecting Ratepayers.” Gov. Maura Healey signed it on Nov 20–21, 2024. The law overhauled siting/permitting and, for large projects, lets the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) issue a single state certificate that can override local zoning—including for big battery energy storage (BESS) projects.