To the Editor:
The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Beach Haven, located at 315 Second Street, contains over 6.5 tons of lithium-ion batteries. This irresponsible placement is an unacceptable hazard to the residents and visitors of LBI, especially if a thermal runaway event, which is a fire that cannot be extinguished (TRE), occurs. This not a hypothetical risk; at least 16 have occurred in the U.S. in the past four years with less than 1,000 such facilities.
A TRE here would release toxic, explosive fumes, requiring mass evacuation in our dense, tourist-driven community.
July 2, 2026
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