Some people in the Silver City community are frustrated that a company wants to build a 40-acre battery storage facility in Creek County.
The company held a public meeting on Monday to hear people’s concerns.
THE COMPANY
Sofos Power is a company based in Birmingham, Alabama, but was founded in Spain in 2004.
The company develops Battery Energy Storage Systems.
Their website: https://sofospower.com/
THE PROJECT
The facility is a group of lithium batteries that store electrical energy.
Leaders say the proposed project in Creek County would make energy more reliable and affordable.
It also estimates the project would bring $12 million in tax benefits to Creek County.
Leaders say safety concerns will be addressed as required by law, and the impact on the environment is minimal.
The facility would go in near South 449th West Avenue and West 61st Street in Creek County.
Right now, the land in this area is zoned agricultural, and would possibly need to be re-zoned for the project to continue.
STATEMENT
Leaders of the company refused News On 6’s request for an on-camera interview, but sent the following statement:
“Sofos Power is an American company located in Birmingham, Alabama. Our goal in developing energy storage projects around the country is to provide necessary grid reliability and affordability to consumers. Although the Silver City Project is in the very early stages of development, our aim at this evening’s meeting is to provide great information about our project and to ultimately be a great community partner.”
COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Many people spoke up at the meeting, worried about fires, water contamination, noise, and air pollution.
Others brought up concerns about company leaders not living in or being from Oklahoma.
Marla Hewitt lives in the Silver City community and feels that project leaders are not being transparent.
“They only sent letters and notified people who were adjacent to the proposed area,” said Hewitt. “So that was a big red flag for me.”
She’s worried about what would happen if the facility were to catch fire, as wildfires are not uncommon in Oklahoma.
“I was a chemist at a refinery in Tulsa,” said Hewitt. “And then I taught chemistry. I just don’t think one training a year is going to prepare people for the kind of disaster that could occur with these batteries.”
She does not feel like concerns were heard and that there is enough known about the project.
“This is our community, our people and generations of farmers and ranchers out here that, them thinking and hoping is not enough for us,” said Hewitt.
It means a lot to her to see the community rallying together in opposition of the project.
“These are wonderful people,” said Hewitt. “They’re salt of the earth people. A lot of these elderly people, it’s hard for them to get out and come, but they did. That just shows how against this our whole community is.”