Residents raise concerns over Battery Energy Storage System in Dubois County

Proposed Crossvine Solar Project includes a BESS that has locals worried about safety and lack of community input

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:12am

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Residents in Dubois County, Indiana are sounding the alarm over a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that is set to be part of the Crossvine Solar Project. Locals like Abby Wendholt, whose family property is near the BESS site, and Jared Harris are worried about the potential fire risks and lack of evacuation plans, especially with several schools in the 2-mile radius. The county commissioners acknowledge the community's concerns, but say current zoning laws limit their ability to block the project on private land. They plan to review ordinances and involve residents in the process going forward.

Why it matters

The Crossvine Solar Project's BESS has raised significant safety concerns among Dubois County residents due to the proximity to schools and lack of emergency planning. This highlights the challenges communities face in balancing renewable energy development with public safety, especially when zoning laws give companies broad latitude on private land projects.

The details

The proposed Crossvine Solar Project in Dubois County, Indiana includes a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that has sparked alarm among local residents. The BESS, which can store energy generated by the solar panels, is set to be located near several schools and daycares within a 2-mile radius. Residents like Abby Wendholt and Jared Harris worry about the fire risks of the BESS and the lack of an evacuation plan, fearing a catastrophic event could endanger the nearby schools and community. The county commissioners say they have limited zoning rules governing such projects on private land, and while they plan to review ordinances, the current laws allow the Crossvine project to move forward.

  • Construction on the Crossvine Solar Project, including the BESS, is set to begin in spring 2026.
  • The Dubois County Commissioners have enacted a temporary moratorium on new solar and energy storage projects while they review zoning ordinances.

The players

Abby Wendholt

A local resident whose family property is located near the site of the proposed BESS.

Jared Harris

A community member who has raised concerns about the proximity of the BESS to nearby schools.

Chad Blessinger

The president of the Dubois County Commissioners, who acknowledges the community's concerns but says current zoning laws limit the county's ability to block the project.

John Schroeder

The vice president of the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation, who says the schools were not well-informed about the BESS project.

AES Indiana

The company developing the Crossvine Solar Project, including the BESS, that has not yet provided answers to the community's safety concerns.

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What they’re saying

“The biggest risk is the fire. If they would catch on fire, the safety of our first responders, our firefighters, there's really no way to put them out.”

— Abby Wendholt (14news.com)

“They're basically putting 92 shipping container-sized batteries right in the middle of four schools within two miles of either direction. The community's not been well-informed.”

— Jared Harris (14news.com)

“With the exception of the local residents that have come to our public meetings and spoken, nobody else has approached us. Due to the proximity of the battery station, we were very surprised and disappointed there wasn't more notice or information provided since again the safety of our schools is our number one priority.”

— John Schroeder, Vice President, Southwest Dubois County School Corporation (14news.com)

What’s next

The Dubois County Commissioners plan to review their zoning ordinances and restrictions on projects like the Crossvine Solar Project's BESS, and they say they will involve the community members who are most opposed to the project in the process of writing new rules going forward.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tensions between renewable energy development and community safety concerns, especially when local zoning laws give companies broad latitude to pursue projects on private land. It underscores the need for greater transparency, community engagement, and comprehensive safety planning when siting large-scale energy infrastructure near residential areas and sensitive sites like schools.