1
00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,480
Speaker 1: The plan to build a new lithium battery storage site

2
00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,520
Speaker 1: in Tewksbury has drawn widespread anger from townsfolk here. John

3
00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:06,800
Speaker 1: Kerrn is the town manager.

4
00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:08,960
Speaker 2: If there's an event at a plant like this, it

5
00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,920
Speaker 2: tends to burn very hot and for a longer period

6
00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:13,239
Speaker 2: of time.

7
00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:15,520
Speaker 1: He says the proposed site on Hillman Street would have

8
00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:18,800
Speaker 1: serious safety features to prevent a runaway reaction. Neighbors and

9
00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:21,200
Speaker 1: folks of the nearby Assistant Living Home are nervous about

10
00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:23,799
Speaker 1: the potential for a fire and any toxic effect that

11
00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:26,079
Speaker 1: can have on them. John says the state has control

12
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,120
Speaker 1: of the site, meaning the town can't stop it even

13
00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:28,720
Speaker 1: if it tried.

14
00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,319
Speaker 2: This is unusual for a local community because most things

15
00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:33,600
Speaker 2: go through a local permitting process. It's viewed as not

16
00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:34,760
Speaker 2: much more transparent.

17
00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,640
Speaker 1: So instead they've drafted a host community agreement, which John

18
00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,320
Speaker 1: says pays out at least two million a year, plus

19
00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,720
Speaker 1: funding for emergency responds, water treatment, and local parks, among

20
00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,080
Speaker 1: many other things. He's thinking, if it's going to happen anyway,

21
00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,560
Speaker 1: the town's got to milk it. Kyle Shaffle w BZ,

22
00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:49,920
Speaker 1: Boston's news radio