Neighbors packed a recent Dubois County commissioners meeting to deliver a petition of more than 100 signatures urging officials to halt progress on a planned AES battery energy storage facility proposed for NE Holland Road. Speakers at the meeting raised concerns about the risk of fires and toxic emissions, the project’s closeness to local schools, and an absence of meaningful outreach from project developers. Several residents pointed to the county’s lack of countywide zoning as a constraint on local authority to shape or block the project.

Commissioner Chad Blessinger read statements from AES to the board, summarizing the developer’s position and plans. AES described the project as an 85-megawatt, four-hour battery storage facility comprised of 92 enclosures. According to the statements, AES intends to build to NFPA 855 standards, provide training for first responders, and host a community open house in November. The company also indicated construction could begin as early as March.

Following the public presentation, commissioners agreed to research the legal and policy avenues for imposing a moratorium and committed to returning with options within two weeks. The board’s response signals a formal review process that could include examination of emergency planning, permitting pathways, and any local regulatory levers available in the absence of countywide zoning authority.

The debate highlights a broader tension between rapid deployment of energy infrastructure and local control. For residents near NE Holland Road, the immediate concern is safety and transparency: battery energy storage systems can present complex fire-suppression and hazardous material challenges that local emergency services say require specialized preparation. AES’s commitment to first responder training addresses that need in part, but neighbors said earlier outreach would have allowed for more community input and planning before the project advanced.

Because Dubois County does not have countywide zoning, local elected officials have limited tools to regulate land use uniformly across municipalities and townships. That constraint places greater emphasis on the county commissioners’ discretion, state permitting processes, and any voluntary mitigations the developer offers. A moratorium, if adopted, would temporarily pause permitting or construction to allow time for policy review and potential ordinances, though commissioners must assess legal viability before taking such a step.

The commissioners’ promise to return with options within two weeks sets a near-term timeline for next actions. In the interim, AES’s pledged open house in November and the company’s stated safety commitments may be focal points for residents seeking technical details and assurances. The outcome will shape not only the future of the NE Holland Road site but also how Dubois County balances energy development with community safety and local participation going forward.