Oshtemo Township Residents Oppose Proposed Battery Energy Storage Facility
Over 100 residents in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, rallied against a proposed battery energy storage system (BESS) citing environmental and health concerns. A local group, 'Say No to BESS,' urges regulations to ensure such developments occur in industrial zones rather than agricultural areas.
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More than 100 residents in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, protested plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) near homes and agricultural land. The group 'Say No to BESS' seeks local leadership to oppose the development, highlighting risks associated with battery fires and impacts on local ecological resources, such as wetlands and private wells.
NewEdge Renewable Power, the company interested in the site, plans to submit a formal application in late 2026, coinciding with the expiration of Oshtemo Township's moratorium on such projects, enacted in November 2025. The township's planning commission is developing an ordinance that may include regulations for BESS installations, reflecting community concerns. Local governments have limited control over large-scale energy projects under state law, but residents are advocating for their voices to be heard in local governance.
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