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A renewable energy company headquartered in Miami with an additional office in Minneapolis has proposed a 150-megawatt battery energy storage system be constructed off of U.S. Highway 65 south of Glenville.

Called the Midwater Energy Storage Project, it would be placed on 10 to 20 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the ITC Midwest substation, which is known as the Glenworth Substation.

“We’re excited to bring the project to this region,” said Mary Matze, project developer with Spearmint Energy, the standalone battery energy system operator proposing the project. “We think it will be a net benefit to the community and provide some benefits that allow for grid stabilization and grid reliability and really allow this region to maximize the existing infrastructure that they have.”

Battery storage systems as a whole are positioned to lower energy system costs by optimizing the grid, bolstering reliability and enabling a clean grid.

Matze said the battery energy storage system is not affiliated with the nearby wind project and will take energy off the grid that is coming from various sources, whether that be wind, solar, gas or other carbon-based resources.

“When we looked at sites we were looking for where there’s grid volatility. …” Matze said. “We take that extra energy off the line through the substation. The substation helps convert that energy into a state where we can store it. We store it just like you would store corn, wheat or soy in a bin — when there’s extra corn, wheat or soy. We are storing energy in the battery, and then when the market is ready for it, we release it back onto the grid. Really what this helps do is provide low-cost energy during times of high consumption.”

Matze said highest peak energy usage is at night and then again in the morning, and it requires using resources that are expensive to supply the energy needed for people’s homes at that time. This would enable the company to provide a lower cost product during those times — known as peak shaving.

According to the project application to the state, the system would have the potential to store enough energy to provide electricity for approximately 100,000 households for up to four hours, based on an average household’s electricity consumption.

The storage system itself will look like a series of storage containers, and inside each unit will be batteries stacked in drawers. Matze noted each unit is fully contained, and she estimated there will be between 75 and 100 units over the possible 20 acres.

In addition to grid volatility, she said the company looks at other factors when considering a site, such as if they can safely site a project.

The company looks at national standards with the National Fire Protection Association and other regulatory agencies to ensure they’re providing a project that can be managed safely by the local fire department in case of a battery failure that results in a thermal event.

She said she understands there are concerns and is available to meet with people and answer questions they may have.

About 500 battery energy storage systems operate safely throughout the country, and it is rare for one to start on fire, she said.

Matze said Spearmint Energy uses Tier 1 technology, which has not had any power failures or battery failures that have resulted in a thermal event.

She noted there is a lot of misinformation on the internet about battery fires, but she said in those instances where there have been fires, those systems have utilized different, older technology.

In the event one unit were to catch fire, however, they would allow the fire to burn itself out in that unit. She said research has shown no adverse impacts to any of the surrounding communities.

She has also received questions about if there is the possibility the batteries could leak into the neighboring land, given the proximity to the Shell Rock River. Matze said there will not be liquid inside the batteries they have in the units. And in the event one does start fire, they are not designed to be sprayed with water or other things to extinguish the blaze that could lead to runoff.

She noted Minnesota has one of the most “vigorous” processes for reviewing battery energy storage systems in the country, and she’s happy to participate in the project so they can build a safe project for the community.

The company’s permit would be for 30 years and the batteries have a guaranteed lifespan of 20 to 25 years.

Spearmint met with community leaders about the project in April 2024, including the former county administrator, as well as former Commissioner John Forman and the county’s planning and zoning administrator. She said the company is required by state law to notify Freeborn County, the Shell Rock River Watershed District, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and others.

The project is currently under a state comment period through March 10 through the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on the scope of the environmental assessment. Written comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m that day via https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments, by email at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or by mail at Consumer Affairs Office, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, 1217 Seventh Place East, Suite 350, St. Paul, MN 55101.

“We are committed to continuing to meet with folks and we invite them to provide their comments to the Public Utilities Commission,” Matze said.

The company also plans to have an open house where people can meet with representatives from the company and learn more about the project.

If all goes according to plan and the project can get the necessary approvals, they hope to be under construction in 2027, though they strongly expect those dates will get pushed back, Matze said.

They said they are still looking for a power purchase agreement, which could be with any utility, including one such as Freeborn Mower Electric.

“At the end of the day, we’re here to be a community partner,” she said. ‘We’re looking to work with communities. We expect to be a long-term part of the community, so we encourage people to reach out directly if they have questions.”

Matze can be reached by email at mmatze@spearmintenergy.com. The project website can be found at www.midwaterbattery.com.

In brief discussion about the issue at the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, 2nd District Commissioner Dawn Kaasa said many residents want to know what the evacuation plan would be for the project and how the fire department would be trained to respond.

She said there are many other locations with access to a substation where a project like that could go and questioned why it had to be at that specific site so close to the Shell Rock River.

A group of concerned residents met to discuss the project Monday at Glenville-Emmons High School.

Check back for more information from that meeting.