WESTFIELD — Jupiter Power has withdrawn its plans for a lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) in Westfield, over the Barnes Aquifer, after months of resistance from area residents.

The project, called Streamfield Energy Storage, was proposed for two parcels on Medeiros Way in the northeast section of the city, not far from Barnes Air National Guard Base. This site is near the aquifer from which Westfield, Southampton, Easthampton and Holyoke draw their drinking water. The aquifer has already been contaminated in the past with PFAS, sometimes called “forever chemicals,” which seeped into the water decades ago from firefighting foam used at Barnes.

Streamfield Energy Storage would have consisted of 219 standalone battery units designed to store excess energy generated through renewable sources like wind and solar to be released back into the grid at peak hours of consumption. However, community members and local politicians were not comforted by safety measures proposed by the company, and still harbored strong concerns about the potential for aquifer contamination and long-lasting battery fires releasing harmful toxins into the air.

The company’s decision to withdraw was announced at a press conference on Friday after Westfield Mayor Michael McCabe received a statement from Jupiter Power notifying him of the change.

“Jupiter Power has a broad portfolio of projects in active development across the United States and is consistently evaluating which projects to continue to invest in and advance,” the statement reads. “While we know that the Streamfield project would bring many economic and grid resiliency benefits to the region, and are of course disappointed with the outcome, Jupiter Power has now made the business decision to terminate the Streamfield project and focus development efforts elsewhere.”

Westfield City Councilor Dan Allie, who has been a staunch opponent of the project, attributes this change to community efforts. Allie aided in the dissemination of information about the project throughout surrounding communities, including what he estimates to be more than 500 signs reading “NO Lithium Battery Storage Over Our Aquifer” that have sprung up in front lawns throughout the Valley. Community advocacy, resolutions signed by neighboring municipalities opposing the project and opposition from state legislators all played a role, he said.

“People came together … they moved heaven and earth to get this done,” Allie said.

The Westfield City Council passed a resolution opposing the project in December, the same month that the Southampton Select Board and Planning Board issued a joint letter calling for more research and outreach before the project moved forward. Earlier this month, Easthampton and Holyoke joined the push against the project by passing their own resolutions.

In addition, state Sen. John Velis and state Rep. Kelly Pease advocated against the project, with Pease filing legislation intended to pause the siting of such projects (HD.4558).

While Allie sees this news as a “relief” and a success for the Valley, he also noted that companies are still looking to pursue similar projects throughout the country and the state. He hopes that Westfield’s experience can serve as a model for other communities concerned about the implications of such a project on the surrounding environment.

“It won’t be zoning that will stop this, it will really be public opinion about it,” Allie said, mentioning that because of a clean energy bill passed last year, companies can seek exemptions to local zoning regulations in an effort to streamline the siting of these projects. “There really needs to be local engagement,” he added.

The Streamfield project is the second lithium battery storage facility in the area to have plans withdrawn after public pushback in the past year. A similar project proposed in Wendell by New Leaf Energy fell through last summer. New Leaf cited changes in the facility interconnection process and the state Legislature’s failure to pass a climate bill in withdrawing their project.

Allie said he hopes that the state will be proactive in preventing the “catastrophes” caused by lithium battery fires that have been seen in other states like California and New York in recent years.

“Clean energy shouldn’t pose a risk to our first responders, the environment — certainly not our drinking water,” he said.

A Jupiter Power representative declined to provide additional comment on Monday.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.