Solar Farms Come with Fire Hazards, are you Prepared?

Don’t let the words “solar farm” or “green energy” fool you. The Ten Mile Creek proposed project is a power plant that just happens to use solar panels to create energy. This doesn’t mean it should be scrutinized any less. The infrastructure and all of the accessories that come with it, needs to be fully understood. The health and safety impacts cannot be over looked simply because they are using solar instead of natural gas, nuclear, or coal. This is a large-scale industrial complex being put onto prime farmland and near residential homes.

This type of power plant comes with hazardous materials and conditions. A big concern is the battery storage systems. These systems are shipping containers filled with highly volatile lithium-ion batteries, loaded with lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. They are also surrounded by cooling fluids and high-voltage cable.

Overcharging or overheating in the battery causes thermal runaway. During thermal runaway the battery generates heat faster than it can safely dissipate and toxic flammable gas is generated. Thermal runaway can result in the entire battery storage unit starting on fire or worse, explode. Once ignited they burn extremely hot, release hydrogen fluoride, hydrochloric acid, and heavy metal smoke into the air. This is a chemical fire. Lithium-ion batteries aren’t put out they burn out.

How can residents be confident our safety is a priority? Currently there is a draft joint development agreement (JDA) between Xcel and St. Croix County on the table, that uses vague wording and leaves out many critical assurances. Mitigating fire is just one of many unaddressed issues. The JDA mentions nothing about the installation of battery energy storage systems following National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 855) standards. These standards provide the minimum requirements for mitigating the hazards associated with energy storage systems.

Also missing from the JDA is any evacuation plan for the residents, livestock, and farm animals if there is a fire. Who will make these residents whole if they are harmed? Again, the JDA is silent on this issue. Nor does it ensure that our fire departments have the correct equipment and training. If our fire department is not prepared for this type of fire, according to the National Association of State Fire Marshals, first responders within minutes, could be in danger of dying from the toxic gas.

Toxic heavy metals have serious health consequences. These can range from respiratory distress and organ toxicity to neurodevelopmental damage in children. Breathing in particulate manganese is known to cause a Parkinson like condition including tremors, rigid muscles, and gait disturbances. Nickle exposure can cause cancer. Cobalt poisoning affects multiple organ systems including the heart, thyroid, digestive tract, and nervous system.

Fire is but one of the many concerns from residents plaguing this joint development agreement. The public has been told there have been 5 to 6 meetings between St. Croix County staff and Xcel to create the current draft. Today Monday August 18, the St. Croix County full Board of Supervisors, Erin Prairie Township, and Hammond Township are meeting with Xcel Energy at 5:00 pm at the Government Center.

This came about because the townships and public were asking the county to allow them to present all of their concerns and research that they have. So a special meeting between the St. Croix county board and the townships of Hammond and Erin Prairie was scheduled for August 18th. The St. Croix County Board decided to invite Xcel to the meeting as well. There will not be any public comment at this meeting, only Xcel, the county supervisors and township board members will be able to speak. Xcel has had 5-6 meetings alone with the county staff but the townships haven’t had the same opportunity. How can residents make sure they are being heard?

The term “green energy” is closer to a marketing slogan than the truth of just how hazardous “solar farms” can be. The JDA addresses none of these hazards. If you have something to say about the proposed solar “farm” get involved. Make sure your voice is heard by attending the County Board of Supervisors meetings, calling or emailing them, and educating yourself. The health and safety of St. Croix County residents depends on our do diligence.