Jupiter Power hosts two open houses for proposed energy storage facility

By Neil Zolot

Everett residents got their first glimpse of a proposed energy storage facility planned for Beecham Street, south of Revere Beach Parkway/Route 16 and east of Lower Broadway, at two open houses hosted by Texas-based Jupiter Power and promoted by the Everett Chamber of Commerce at the Connolly Center on Tuesday, July 16, and Wednesday, July 17. “We’d heard about this and helped Jupiter set up the event, so people could get information,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Smith said.

“It’s best people see this,” her assistant Linda Maloney added.

The current 20-acre proposal would house 46 containers, about the size of semi-truck trailers, storing smaller units that would store electricity for use during gaps in service during periods of high electric use: often hot days when air conditioners and fans are being used and refrigerators have to work a little harder to keep themselves cold. 20 acres is about the size of the Encore Boston Harbor land and three times the size of Glendale Park. In some ways the interior of the site would resemble a trailer park with the containers flanking a building housing switching equipment, transformers and other electric utility equipment.

The land was the site of an Exxon Gas facility and is currently being remediated by owner The Davis Companies. According to Smith and Maloney, in the more distant past, the area was a residential area of three-deckers called The Line, possibly referring to an MBTA subway line station at the corner of Beacham and Lower Broadway dating back to 1919 or the fact that it’s on the Boston city line.

The current proposal is rectangular with an end-to-end walking time of 10-15 minutes, but the size and scope are subject to change in the site review process. It will not be operational until at least 2028 and possibly later than that. Among other things, a Host Agreement will have to be worked out.

Literature distributed by Jupiter cites its $500 million-plus investment in the project, annual tax revenue for the City, jobs during remediation and construction, the facility’s compatibility with the area, and a design for it to blend into its surroundings. Artist renderings in the open house portrayed a grayish building surrounded by trees. A bike path for the area is also in the plans.

There was no formal lecture-style presentation on the project. Instead, representatives from Jupiter took small groups on a walking tour of the Connolly Center floor filled with large English and Spanish printouts of a PowerPoint presentation. Information was also available in other languages and translators were present.

About 35 people attended the Tuesday open house. Many were optimistic, but cautious about the project. “It’ll clean up the area, create jobs and provide tax revenue, but we’re still learning about this,” Smith said.

“The area needs rehabilitation, but we’ll need details,” Maloney feels. She referred to the previous structures as Esso gas tanks because Exxon was once known as Esso, a phonetic abbreviation of Standard Oil.

Everett Bank President Richard O’Neil, who’s attorney-brother David O’Neil is an attorney representing Jupiter, found the project interesting.

“This is a good idea,” said former Ward 6 Councillor Al Lattanzi. “It’ll provide clean energy; I like that.”

Ward 1 Councillor Wayne Matewsky attended the Wednesday open house, although he was already familiar with the proposal. “I’m still learning about this, but it might be a good fit for the area,” he said. “I’m glad Jupiter is making an effort to show what this is all about.” The longtime city councillor said the proposed use would create less traffic than housing.

The City has no official position on the proposal. Director of Planning and Community Development Matt Lattanzi, who is also familiar with the project, called the idea a “viable use, but it’s for 20 acres out of over 96 acres of an area that will be subject to a Master Plan. We’re excited to see a new use for the land filtered through a Master Plan.”

“I need to digest this,” provisional Fire Chief Joe Hickey reacted. “Due to the demands of everyday life, there are concerns about power. A system like this can be beneficial because there is a need for this at peak use times, but there would be concerns about access and hazards. Different types of structures require different types of access and a fire there would be different than a regular fire.”

Jupiter is calling the planned site the Trimount Energy Storage Facility. More information is available at trimountenergy.com.