40-Acre Energy Storage Facility Planned in Warda

Fayette County Commissioners Court accepted a tax abatement application, along with a $1,000 application fee, from Staccato Storage LLC, at their meeting last Thursday, April 25.

The company wants to build an 200-megawatt battery energy storage facility on approximately 40 acres of property west of Warda.

“This is not connected to any particular power generation, and it is not renewable energy-specific,” said Evan Horn, a consultant working for Staccato. “This is situated next to an existing substation. It can take energy that’s already been produced off the grid when it is not needed, and put it back on the grid when there is greater demand.

“It provides for greater grid resiliency, protection against potential brownouts, blackouts, etc.,” Horn added. “It allows for more power generation to get built, because now there are battery systems that can take that excess generation off, and frees up capacity on the transition lines for more generation.”

He said the facility will not generate any noise. Neither will it require any significant water resources, he said.

“We could start construction in the fourth quarter of 2025, and it has about a 12-month construction schedule,” he said. “It would be going into operation in 2026.”

Horn said the company anticipates investing $160 million on the property in Warda. Horn said property taxes are the second largest operating expense for projects of this type (the largest expense is the purchase of electricity off the grid).

In its application to the County, Staccato requested a 100 percent abatement with a “payment in lieu of taxes,” known as a PILOT, to be negotiated with the County.

Commissioners voted 4-0 to accept the application and the fee. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom has recused himself from all court discussion and votes concerning the tax abatement because he owns the land where Staccato wants to build the facility.

A public hearing on Staccato’s request will be set at a later date.