Goochland officials push Fire Station 8 ahead, consider sites for Station 7; fire chief raises safety concerns about proposed battery storage project

Goochland County officials told residents the county is moving forward on fire-rescue investments to keep pace with east-end growth and said the department has raised safety questions about a proposed large battery storage project.

Interim county administrator Manny Alvarez said the county is advancing Fire Station 8 in Sandy Hook and expects to issue bids for construction later this year. “We have a project that we're building companies, Fire Station 8 in Sandy Hook... We're expecting, to issue the bids, by the end of the year, about fall,” Alvarez said.

Officials said Station 7 — long discussed as needed for the east end — remains in site-selection. The county is evaluating possible properties, including the former HCA facility near West Creek, but noted site acquisition and conversion costs could exceed current funds. Fire leaders said the station is needed to cover growth corridors and to reduce pressure on neighboring companies when multiple calls occur.

On a separate matter, county fire command expressed safety reservations about a proposed lithium-battery energy storage facility known in community briefings as the Melrose Energy Center. Chief Watkins said the county has “serious safety concerns” about the project’s location, road access and water supply and noted the national experience with large lithium-ion storage events where fires can burn for hours or days. He said fire-rescue has provided written concerns to community development and that the company has not yet filed a formal application; when it does, the project will proceed through a planning-commission public hearing and a board public hearing.

Ending: Officials said they will continue to evaluate station locations and safety requirements and that citizens will have formal opportunities to comment when any battery-storage application is filed.