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Queens Rally in St. Albans Opposes Battery Storage Plan
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St. Albans battery storage remains contested in southeast Queens after residents rallied on Tuesday to oppose a planned lithium-ion project by NineDot Energy. The crowd held signs and chanted "no", saying the development would sit too close to homes and pose fire risks. Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman told the rally: "If anything goes wrong, this community is in the line of fire and that's what's most concerning. It's not that we don't want them. We want them to be in places where it doesn't have to be on someone's doorstep." NineDot provided a statement saying the site is commercially zoned, was formerly a gas station, and that remediation work is nearly finished as it prepares to build the storage system.
If anything goes wrong, this community is in the line of fire and that's what's most concerning. It's not that we don't want them. We want them to be in places where it doesn't have to be on someone's doorstep.
Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman
Key takeaways
- Residents of St. Albans, Queens rallied against a planned lithium-ion battery storage project proposed by NineDot Energy.
- Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman told the crowd that any failure would put the community "in the line of fire."
- NineDot Energy says the project sits on a commercially-zoned site that formerly housed a gas station and that remediation is nearly finished.
- Neighbors cite the facility's proximity to homes and potential lithium-ion fire risks as the core objections.
Table of contents
Why residents say the project is unsafe
Neighbors in St. Albans objected primarily to the planned storage facility's proximity to homes and to perceived fire risks from lithium-ion batteries. People held signs and chanted "no" at the rally, which the text records as broad local resistance to the siting. Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman voiced the safety concern directly, saying any failure would put the community "in the line of fire." These safety and proximity objections are the core reasons opposition has coalesced.
NineDot Energy's account and the site's past
NineDot Energy says the project is on a commercially-zoned site that previously was a gas station opposed by community members for decades. The company told reporters it is nearly finished remediating environmental harm from that prior use and that brief access to a neighboring lot is needed to complete remediation. NineDot describes the development process as a routine New York practice and frames the end goal as a clean energy storage system designed to benefit the local community.
How local review and history could affect the project
Local opposition and the site's history of contention are likely to shape the path forward: remediation, temporary access and safety arrangements are now front‑and‑center. No scheduled hearings or permit dates are listed, but the combination of vocal residents and an elected official's intervention increases the chance that planners will require additional mitigation or review. The recorded history of opposition to the former gas station gives opponents precedent and context for pressing municipal review before construction proceeds.
Case for and against proceeding
The case for
- NineDot Energy says the site is commercially zoned and that remediation of prior gas-station contamination is nearly finished, which supports moving toward construction.
- The company frames the planned installation as a clean energy storage system intended to benefit the local community, a stated public-good argument for permitting.
The case against
- Residents and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman cite proximity and lithium-ion fire risks, creating political and community headwinds that can slow approvals.
- The site's decades-long history of opposition to the former gas station gives opponents precedent to press for more oversight, increasing the chance of extended review.
What to be careful about
- Sustained community opposition could delay local permitting decisions and add conditions to any approval.
- Perceived lithium-ion fire risk in a residential area could prompt stricter safety assessments or design changes.
- Temporary access to neighboring lots for remediation may create legal or logistical disputes that slow progress.
The bottom line
The St. Albans rally highlights a recurring issue for urban battery projects: balancing clean-energy goals with neighbour safety and land-use concerns. Residents and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman focused on proximity and the perceived fire risk of lithium-ion batteries, while NineDot Energy emphasised zoning, remediation progress and standard development practices. No permit approvals or hearing dates are listed, so the immediate outcome is unresolved. What follows will likely be scrutiny of remediation work, negotiations over temporary access and municipal safety assessments. Follow-up will show whether remediation timelines accelerate or face legal challenge.
What to watch
- Watch for any public notice of permitting hearings or municipal review related to the NineDot Energy project; no date has been set.
- Watch for published remediation milestones or filings from NineDot Energy or local agencies; no date has been set.
Frequently asked questions
Who is opposing the project in St. Albans?
Neighbors in St. Albans, Queens and Assemblymember Alicia Hyndman led a rally opposing the NineDot Energy proposal, citing proximity to homes and safety concerns over lithium-ion batteries.
What is NineDot Energy's response to the opposition?
NineDot Energy says the site is commercially zoned, was previously a gas station, and that remediation is nearly finished as the company prepares to build a clean energy storage system intended to benefit the community.
Are there any scheduled hearings or permits listed?
No permit approvals or hearing dates are listed in the available text; follow-up is needed to confirm the project's regulatory timetable and any upcoming public meetings.
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