New York's battery storage is firesafe

Long Island faces a choice about its energy future, but it's not the choice some people think. The question isn't whether to embrace battery energy storage systems or protect public safety. We can and must do both.

As Long Island faces climbing electricity bills, an aging grid that struggles to meet ever-increasing energy demand, and very real threats to grid reliability, it's clear that we need to consider meaningful solutions that will strengthen our grid and keep energy prices in check.

What often gets lost in this debate is the affordability crisis facing Long Island families. Battery storage is one of the most effective tools we have to lower electricity costs while strengthening reliability and maintaining safety. By storing energy when prices are low and delivering it back to the grid during peak demand, these systems reduce reliance on the most expensive power plants and help stabilize prices systemwide, translating directly into lower costs for consumers.

This is not a risky experiment, but proven, essential infrastructure for a resilient and cost-efficient grid. The technology continues to advance rapidly. Turning away from storage now would mean missing a real opportunity to address affordability with technology that is becoming safer and more advanced every year.

That's why in November, the Long Island Energy Storage Summit brought together fire safety experts, Long Island officials and business leaders to discuss the state's robust fire code, and address concerns the community has about energy storage facilities. These concerns are legitimate. Any infrastructure project deserves scrutiny, especially when it's located near homes, schools and businesses.

But here's what I know from my years leading the FDNY: When we get the safety protocols right from the start, battery storage is safe.

The results speak for themselves. Despite widespread deployment across New York City, there has not been a single battery energy storage fire incident. Across the state, there have been only three fires to date, all effectively contained and extinguished. That's not luck. It's the result of careful preparation, rigorous oversight and constant collaboration between engineers, operators and first responders.

Nationally, incidents involving battery storage systems dropped 98% between 2018 and 2024, even as deployment expanded more than 18-fold. As the technology has matured and safety protocols have improved, battery storage has become exponentially safer.

This summer, New York took the protocols that worked in the city and made them law statewide. The state now requires independent engineering reviews before installation, round-the-clock monitoring of fire-detection systems, and more. Every project must meet or exceed national fire protection standards.

These aren't paper requirements. They're enforceable standards backed by the full weight of state building codes. Every battery storage facility on Long Island must meet them.

I understand that statistics and code language don't always ease worry, especially when something new is coming to your neighborhood. But consider what we've long accepted without a second thought: the gas station on the corner stores thousands of gallons of flammable fuel. Electrical substations handle massive voltage. Thousands of power lines crisscross our communities. We manage these risks through smart regulation, trained responders and constant vigilance. Battery storage deserves the same careful approach, and in New York it's getting exactly that.

We don't have to choose between a stronger, more affordable energy future and community safety. With New York's proven standards in place, Long Island can have both. I spent my career protecting New Yorkers. I wouldn't put my name behind this technology if I weren't confident it's safe.

This guest essay reflects the views of Tom Von Essen, former commissioner of the Fire Department of New York, who lives in Rockville Centre.