Assessment of Potential Energy Storage Alternatives for Project 2015A in Peabody, Massachusetts

This briefing paper assesses the viability of battery storage as a replacement for a proposed gas and oil peaker power plant in Peabody, Massachusetts. It examines the cost-effectiveness and public health implications of developing battery storage as an alternative solution to the proposed fossil-fuel power plant, known as Project 2015A. The paper was prepared by Strategen on behalf of Clean Energy Group and the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN).

The evaluation concludes that battery storage is a cost-competitive, clean option for meeting peak demand in the region, finding that:

• When accounting for project costs and expected revenues, battery storage would result in significant lifetime savings versus the proposed power plant.
• Deploying battery storage would eliminate $5 million in emissions-related costs for the state of Massachusetts.
• Battery storage would enable greater deployment of renewable resources and reduce pollution burdens on surrounding environmental justice communities.
• A proposal to eventually burn hydrogen at the gas power plant would result in continued local emissions and require overcoming numerous transportation, storage, and safety challenges.