Jan. 15—About the event
What: Public hearing on plan to build lithium battery bank.
When: 6 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Oologah Community Center, 215 S. Maple St. in Oologah.
Event highlights
1. Texas-based Black Mountain Energy Storage is asking the Oologah Planning Commission to approve a zoning change that would allow the company to construct a lithium battery bank.
2. The proposed battery bank aims to make the power grid more stable and prevent blackouts and brownouts, said Jackson Hughes, Black Mountain’s development manager. Hughes said the bank would mitigate “significant grid restraints” that will crop up when the nearby Northeastern Station coal power plant shuts down in 2026.
3. Black Mountain would construct the battery bank next to Fourmile Creek in Oologah, which flows into the Verdigris River. Some residents oppose the bank because of concerns that it could contaminate the water or cause fires.
Why attend?
Kathy McLaughlin, Oologah’s town clerk, said people who attend the Thursday meeting will be able to learn more about the plan and give their feedback.
The town board and planning commission will not vote on the zoning change Thursday, McLaughlin said — the planning commission will vote Jan. 21, and if the commission approves it, the town board will vote Jan. 23.
“It will just be a public hearing before our regular town meeting so that people can get some information,” McLaughlin said. “… It is just a way to gauge the community, whether they want to be for or against a battery bank going in that location.”
Hughes said a retired fire chief and energy storage specialist from Arizona will attend Thursday’s meeting to discuss possible fire risk.