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The Minnesota Department of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission are picking up momentum in the environmental assessment of a permit application for a battery energy storage site at the North Star solar array.  The solar panels to be associated with the batteries cover about 900 acres on the south end of North Branch.  

This is the early stage of a permit process that the developer DESRI LLC anticipates will take about a year.  

DESRI owns and operates the Chisago County solar array along with sites in 23 states. A permit is required because the storage system capacity is greater than 10 megawatts.

Joel Puritz, Project Development Lead, told about 30 people who attended last week’s public information meeting at the old Lent Town Hall, that the batteries will take about nine months to set-up once the permit is issued. The system should be operational by mid 2027.  

The battery site is east of County Road 14, north of the Xcel substation, and contained within the original footprint of the solar production project that was initiated by North Star  in 2015. 

Each battery (10 are proposed in phase one) are approximately the size of shipping containers. 

The project is being installed at the request of the MISO electric grid that serves the midwest and Xcel Energy, and is designed to meet their specifications. 

The lithium iron phosphate type  battery will provide power for up to four hours, Puritz explained. This type of battery is “the most stable to operate.”

Responding to concerns expressed by a neighboring property owner, he said there have been no fire-related incidents at DESRI battery sites.  

Local firefighters/first responders have already been brought into the planning process, which is standard, according to Paul Brown, a consultant who works with ESRG (Energy Safety Response Group.)

Brown stated he is impressed with members of the area’s fire departments  for their enthusiasm to train  and their professionalism.  He has facilitated at least one session in person so far.

Meeting attendees heard each battery site is specific to its conditions. The monitors, alarms and immediate shutdown capability in use are cutting edge.  The battery containers themselves have their own interior fire suppressant functions. Any use of water in the event of overheating or fire is mainly directed to cooling down adjacent battery unit exteriors.

Puritz said the batteries have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years and a decommissioning plan is being drafted to become part of the permit process.

A neighbor asked about the view,  and asked about fencing and vegetative buffers and she was advised the plan is still in early design and DESRI will work with neighbor preferences.

The access road off County 14 is sketched in at a tentative location, and here again, the officials said they will work with area residents for the desired location.

Chisago County Environmental Services Director Kurt Schneider stated during open comment that the state agencies and energy companies “...have created an open dialogue and a transparent process” and the county anticipates a productive permit review. He hopes to see this continue and that residents continue to be given a chance for input.  The county has a lesser role to play in this battery storage project, which is regulated by law through state energy agencies.

Additional public meetings, once the environmental assessment that is underway is completed, will happen probably in the late fall.  The Department of Commerce is collecting comments on local concerns, tied to the site which then go into drafting the scope of the assessment.  

Sam Weaver, from Commerce, said the written submission of comments closes June 13.

Comment directly on-line at mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities. or mail written concerns to Sam Weaver MN Dept. of Commerce 85 Seventh Place East Suite 280 St Paul, MN 55101

Weaver takes e mail comments at [email protected]

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