VERGENNES, Vt. (WCAX) – A proposed battery storage project in Vergennes is on pause after neighbors raised concerns about safety. It comes as renewable energy advocates say the technology is key to making solar and wind power more reliable.

If you’re driving through Vergennes, you may notice signs around the city. “BESS” stands for battery energy storage system, and some residents are displaying their opposition to building one there. Others see it as a key to unlock our renewable energy future.

“Anything we can do to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels, focus on getting more renewable energy, and supporting renewable energy infrastructure is a good thing,” said James Thompson of New Haven.

The idea is that these systems would lower Vermonters’ rates by storing excess solar energy produced on sunny days. Then, during peak electricity usage, like a hot day or cold night, the power is discharged from the batteries into the electric grid.

Peter Sterling, the director of Renewable Energy Vermont, says this limits the need to pull from dirtier gas plants or other fossil fuels. “Whenever we’re pushing one of those plants offline with one of these energy storage projects, we’re actually lessening the damage that’s being done elsewhere, predominantly in low-income or almost always minority areas out of state,” Sterling said.

Virginia-based company Lightshift proposes to build a five-megawatt battery storage system on a plot of land on Panton Road that would be about the size of five shipping containers.

Annette Smith with Vermonters for a Clean Environment says they have safety concerns. “Battery storage does raise real issues on potential for fire. And if there is a fire, then you can have PFAS contamination of water, so it’s just something you don’t want to put right next to where someone lives,” she said.

Lightshift disputes the safety risk, saying it has had “zero safety incidents,” including at two similar projects in Essex Junction and Northfield.

But after hearing community concerns, Lightshift says it has paused the project, saying in a statement, “We will keep meeting and engaging with residents to determine a path forward for this important work, including the possibility of another location.”

Gov. Phil Scott weighed in while he was in Addison County on Wednesday. He says he understands residents’ concerns but sees the development of battery storage as essential to meeting Vermont’s energy needs.