The Grenergy Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility took a step forward Tuesday as Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding for the project.
The MOU will now refer the proposal to the Pierce County Board of Assessors for tax abatement considerations.
There were some concerns voiced about the project however.
Prior to the question being called, Anne Williams of Patterson interrupted the meeting from the gallery and said she had questions about the proposal.
County Chairman Neal Bennett asked commissioners for guidance and the commission agreed to allow public input.
In addition to Williams, several others spoke, including Linda Herrin, Victor Balaguer and Dawn Thompson.
Ian Evans of Stratum Land and Energy Partners, representing Grenergy, and Industrial Development Authority director Blake James gave information and answered questions about the proposed development.
Williams asked for more details about the development itself with follow-up questions about fire danger and water usage. Herrin also asked for details about the tax abatement and who the BESS would be storing power for.
The first details of the proposed BESS facility were presented last month.
Grenergy USA is an Alabama based company and is the U.S. branch of an energy solutions company from Spain. Grenergy has identified Pierce County as the potential site for what would be the second of only two privately-owned BESS facilities in Georgia.
The BESS operation would be a 20 acre facility on Tyre Bridge and Sinclair Roads in the Offerman and Patterson areas. The project represents an approximately $177.9 million investment with tax revenue on personal property associated with the project beginning to flow into Pierce County coffers by 2030.
Officials have stressed the BESS project is not a data center, bitcoin mine or solar farm.
Evans explained BESS facilities purchase electricity during low demand time periods and then bank that energy, selling it back to the local utility during high volume, high demand periods. He indicated Georgia Power would be the utility purchasing the power. In this way they generate a profit while also reinforcing and boosting the local power grid, ensuring there is plentiful energy during peak seasons when usage levels are at their highest.
Such reinforcement of the power grid could be useful not just during peak seasons like summer, when everyone wants to keep cool and air conditioners run almost constantly, but also during severe weather events. If downed lines disconnect a utility provider’s substation from the main power plant, BESS units can step in to temporarily supply energy to communities still connected to the substation.
In response to the question about tax abatement, Evans said abatements will assist the project in being competitive.
In earlier discussions, it was reported that over the projected 15 year lifespan of the BESS site, an estimated $9,914,970 of tax revenue would be paid to Pierce County. However, Grenergy would receive tax abatements over a 15 year period. The company would receive tax breaks early in the abatement period, but would gradually pay increasing amounts each year over the 15 year period.
Evans and James pointed out there is little demand on the county or any local government entity because the BESS does not use water or additional utilities, does not require additional infrastructure and will not cause an influx of workers and families that will require more roads, schools and other services.
Evans explained the battery storage units would be similar to truck containers and would be monitored 24/7.
He explained the fire danger is minimal, but also said the systems are designed for safety to contain the damage in case of a fire.
In addition to the tax revenue, Grenergy is promising to deliver $20,000 in available scholarship funds for graduating Pierce County High School seniors each year and $15,000 in donations to the Pierce County Fire Department for the purchase of new equipment for 15 years.
The Board of Assessors will now handle the next step. An agreement on the tax abatements must be reached before the project can move forward.
The next board of assessors meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. today, Wednesday, August 12, at the Board of Assessors office at the Courthouse Annex at 312 Nichols Street in Blackshear.
During an initial meeting last month, the board of assessors was cautious on the abatement issue, but agreed to work toward an agreement.
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