Battery storage proposed in Finderne (Rockland APV, East Main Street)

Rockland APV Bridgewater Energy LLC (Application 24-029-ZB) seeks preliminary and final major site plan approval and a minor subdivision for Block 338, Lot 9 (760 East Main Street), according to the township’s notice. The site, at East Main Street and Polhemus Lane in Finderne, is owned by the Somerset County Improvement Authority and used, as TAPinto described it, as a county maintenance yard; the applicant’s attorney, Glenn Pantel, told the Board on Feb. 10, 2026 that it holds an option on a long-term ground lease of a 2.892-acre parcel, with the remaining 4.235 acres staying with the county authority (Board transcript).

Why it needs a variance. Township rules allow electric storage as an “essential service” only when run by a public utility or government entity. Mr. Pantel told the Board on Feb. 10 that, as a private company, “we have acknowledged that we do need the D-1 Use Variance” (Board transcript).

What is proposed. The applicant’s chief executive, John Seker, testified on Feb. 10 to “a 20 megawatts, 80-megawatt hour Battery Energy Storage System,” able, the applicant said, to power up to 20,000 homes for four hours (Board transcript). TAPinto’s April and October reports describe it as “20,000-megawatt”; the explainer sets the figures side by side.

The hearings. The Board heard the application on Feb. 10 and July 28, 2026 (no members of the public were sworn at either, its minutes record), took it up on April 14 (its minutes record the application carried to July 28; TAPinto reported testimony that night), and heard it again at an Oct. 20 special meeting, as TAPinto reported. On July 28 the applicant’s fire consultant, Leonard Ganesh Deonarine, said the fire code “says 75 feet. What we’ve put in the emergency plan was 200 feet” (Board transcript).

What the Board has asked about. As the transcripts and TAPinto record: the tax benefit of a facility on tax-exempt county land, long-term environmental liability next to the remediated American Cyanamid site, fire risk, the 200-foot safety zone the applicant’s fire consultant recommended, and the emergency response plan, which Chairman John Kulak called lacking.

At the Council. On Feb. 5, 2026, resident Samantha Alley said the area floods and raised soil contamination concerns; Councilman Timothy Ring said the matter belongs to the Zoning Board and that the Council should not discuss its merits.

What residents can do. Attend the Nov. 24, 2026 hearing, question witnesses and comment. The explainer lists each hearing. Corrections can be emailed to info@localwhy.org.