On the evening of February 2, 2026, the Clay Town Board opened the floor to residents on two battery storage applications from Nexamp, and the meeting ran long. Two companies had filed three applications for permission to build battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the town. Nexamp's Jan. 21 filings, for sites on Wetzel Road (#1243) and Longbranch Road (#1244), describe Tesla Megapack batteries feeding into the National Grid interconnection[1]. Carson Power's filing (#1245), submitted the same day, describes a different configuration: "BESS utilizing twelve (12) units"[2]. Battery storage has expanded quickly across New York State, and that growth has brought scrutiny over where the systems are sited and what happens if one fails.

Noise and Distance

Olivia Sproviero, representing Nexamp, answered resident questions about the facilities' impact on the surrounding area. Asked about noise, she put the figure at approximately 75 decibels[3]. On the question of distance, a resident told the board that four buildings housing sixteen families sit roughly 130 feet from the proposed Longbranch Road site[4].

The Response-Time Question

Councilor Gauthier asked what the emergency response time would be. The applicant said the equipment's emergency dispatch is based in Massachusetts, a trip of 6 to 8 hours — but added that technicians have the ability to be on site within 4 hours and are working with local fire departments[5]. A resident followed by noting that Clay does not have a paid fire department, and that leaning on volunteer departments alongside a multi-hour response window from Nexamp would strain them[6]. Fire Chief Mike Brown of the Moyers Corners Fire District asked whether the department was expected to remain on site for four hours monitoring a facility on its own[7].

Councilor Bick asked how long it would take to burn all the battery cells in a fire. The applicant did not know. He then asked how many cells the facility would store; again, there was no answer[8].

Carson Power's Own Numbers

During its presentation on the third application, Carson Power's representatives, identified in the minutes as Mr. Murray and Mr. Anderson, told the board there had been 26 container fires nationally over the past 10 years among similar battery systems. They said those incidents had produced no evidence of contamination, but that the worst case would occur in heavy wind and could require evacuating the surrounding area[9].

A Call to Pause

Many residents spoke against both the Nexamp and Carson Power applications. Some asked the board to deny them outright; others called for a moratorium, similar to those other towns have adopted[10]. One resident asked how these sites get chosen, and why not somewhere more rural[11].

Recusals and Revisions

When the applications moved to the Planning Board on February 11, Chairwoman Borton opened by disclosing that she would recuse herself from all three battery storage cases. She said she owns a civil engineering practice, Borton Engineering, P.C., that does business with Nexamp[12]. Mr. Palumbo recused himself for the same reason[13].

Asked again about noise, Sproviero told the board the level would be closer to 70 decibels at its highest — a lower figure than the 75 decibels she cited at the Feb. 2 town board meeting[14]. Mr. Henty asked how many battery sites Nexamp currently has operating; Sproviero said 10[15]. Mr. Graves asked how the facility's ventilation systems would be affected by Central New York's cold-weather patterns[16]. Deputy Chair Mitchell noted that two letters were on record from Longbranch-area residents opposing the project[17].

The Town Pauses

On April 6, the Town Board adopted Local Law No. 3, a six-month moratorium on new battery storage applications, by a vote of 6-1. The law was meant to give the town time to study the technology and draft siting regulations before any of the three pending applications moved further[18].

Writing the Rules

Two weeks later, on April 20, battery storage regulation returned to the town board's agenda — this time as Local Law No. 4, a draft siting law setting rules for where and how BESS facilities can be built in Clay[19]. The three January applications remain on hold under the moratorium: Nexamp's Wetzel Road and Longbranch Road sites, and Carson Power's twelve-unit proposal. What to watch is how Local Law No. 4 takes shape as it moves through revisions, and what happens to the three paused applications once the town has rules in place to weigh them against.

Sources

[1] Town Board Minutes, Jan 21, 2026: "Nexamp Wetzel Road (#1243), Nexamp Longbranch (#1244): Tesla Megapack batteries with National Grid interconnection."

[2] Town Board Minutes, Jan 21, 2026: "Carson Power (#1245): BESS utilizing twelve (12) units."

[3] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "A resident asked about the noise. Ms. Sproviero said it would be approximately 75 decibels."

[4] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "A resident said there are 4 buildings that house 16 families 130' from the proposed site."

[5] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "Councilor Gauthier asked what the emergency response time will be. The applicant said that the Emergency dispatch is in Massachusetts 6-8 hours" and that "they have the ability to be there in 4 hours and are working with local fire departments."

[6] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "A resident stated the Town of Clay doesn't have a paid Fire Department, and this will strain the volunteer fire departments, especially with a 4-8 hour window for Nexamp to respond."

[7] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "Fire Chief Mike Brown of MCFD: asked if they expect the fire department to hang around for 4 hours."

[8] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "Councilor Bick asked how long it would take to burn all the cells? The applicant didn't know. He asked how many cells they were storing; again, the applicant could not answer."

[9] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: Carson Power presentation (Mr. Murray/Mr. Anderson): "26 container fires over the past 10 years"; incidents "have produced no evidence of contamination, but the worst case would occur with heavy wind and could require evacuation."

[10] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "Many residents spoke in opposition to both applications, some asked for denial and others suggested a moratorium as other towns have adopted."

[11] Town Board Minutes, Feb 2, 2026: "A resident asked how they pick these sites. Why not somewhere more rural?"

[12] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: "Chairwoman Borton: 'I want to disclose that I will be recusing myself from the next three cases on the agenda concerning battery energy storage systems. I own my own civil engineering practice (Borton engineering, P.C.) and do business with Nexamp.'"

[13] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: Mr. Palumbo also recused himself, citing the same business relationship with Nexamp.

[14] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: Ms. Sproviero said the noise level would be approximately 70 decibels at its highest.

[15] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: "Mr. Henty asked how many battery sites are operational. Ms. Sproviero said 10."

[16] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: "Mr. Graves asked about the ventilation and how this will affect Central New York weather patterns in the cold weather."

[17] Planning Board Minutes, Feb 11, 2026: "Deputy Chair Mitchell said two letters are on record received from residents in the Longbranch area in opposition."

[18] Town Board Minutes, Apr 6, 2026 (meeting id 99): Local Law No. 3, a six-month moratorium on BESS applications, adopted 6-1.

[19] Town Board Agenda, Apr 20, 2026: "Battery storage regulation is on the April 20 agenda" (Local Law No. 4, siting regulations).