No Assault & Batteries (NAB)
This photo, by Ralph J. Baleno, was taken in front of the Wendell Country Store on June 9, 2024, following one done for the store. It reflects the townsfolk’s opposition to the New Leaf battery storage project. And we were all relieved when New Leaf cancelled their plans for Wendell on August 6, 2024. Thanks to all who supported our work, which is ongoing, as mentioned in this piece as well.
2024 was quite a year — NAB wishes Wendell a healthy and active 2025!
Top newsmakers of 2024: No Assault & Batteries
BACKGROUND: The extensive woodlands and wetlands of Wendell, Massachusetts are part of a “Green Lung” spreading from northern Connecticut north. The state of the Massachusetts and energy industry corporations say they want to transition our state to a clean energy future. So do we. But an industrial Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the heart of valuable forest isn’t appropriate, for the climate, people and the region as a whole. There are alternatives.
Does the important and vast biodiversity of Wendell’s forest ecosystem need this?
Who We Are
Concerned residents of Massachusetts are trying to preserve the finite resources of the town of Wendell. No Assault & Batteries is a citizen effort founded in October 2023 to protect the town of Wendell and surrounding region, population and natural environment by preventing construction of a 105MW lithium battery energy storage system planned by New Leaf Energy Inc.
Natural Resources
Wildlife
What we Want
To prevent the spikes in power demand that BESS is supposed to solve, NAB would prefer to see more aggressive conservation measures taken first. Preservation of forest land is also an important environmental policy priority for the Commonwealth, and battery technology implementation should be compatible with using “forests as forests.”