The Real Story- A Column
The Jupiter BESS Lithium-Ion Battery facility proposed for the quiet residential neighborhood of Bendemeer, just North of Hillsboro (OR), has received the recommendation of Washington County Planning Director Stephen Roberts for approval. That even though this land use matter has now become the most opposed land use matter in Washington County’s history. Over 350 citizens have submitted letters and testimony, including serious testimony, that this dangerous industrial use does not fit within the Urban Growth Boundary. A group called No Batteries In Backyards (https://nobatteriesinbackyards.org/), made up of adjacent neighbors, has formed and is prepared to fight on. A public hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning this week. Hillsboro Lithium Ion Battery BESS Becomes Most Contested Land Use Case – HEARING TOMMORROW
This is the link to the entire hearing information- https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/current-planning/documents/public-hearing-agenda-notices-10-30-2025/download?inline
To testify verbally, one must email CPAdmin@washingtoncountyor.gov by this evening- follow the instructions above. All of the information is listed right here, where you can review the application and associated documents: https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/current-planning/frequently-discussed-development-applications Written testimony can also be emailed in.
The list of concerns we have heard includes:
- The threat of Lithium-Ion Battery Fires, which are horrendous, cannot be extinguished with water; they produce deadly gases and chemicals with the potential to contaminate groundwater and cause long-term pollution.
- There is no proposed evacuation plan, and neither Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue nor the Hillsboro Fire Department has engaged.
- Incompatibility with residential uses and farmland.
- 24-hour-a-day fans and noise.
- Unsightly ribbon wire fences and industrial white batteries the size of semi trucks (114 of them) destroy the rural atmosphere of the 1913 Bendemeer plat.
- Violations of land use laws.
- The fact that PGE and Washington County want to treat this private power-arbitrage facility as a “Public Utility”.
- No promise or contract by Jupiter to sell the cheap power it will buy from PGE back to them —it is highly possible this power could be privately sold. That is not a Public Utility but an ATM for the corporate owners.
- Harm to livestock and the peaceful countryside.
- Lights that will penetrate the night skies.
- It is a heavy industrial use that needs to be in an industrial park- not in a residential neighborhood.
- If approved, this will open the gateway for private equity firms to install batteries all over the State in areas outside Urban Growth Boundaries,
Marion County and many others outside Oregon have outright banned these dangerous facilities, which are known for uncontrolled fires.
Here are the stories we have covered for our readers, bringing you up to speed. This has become a US (residents/citizens) vs THEM (Out-of-State Equity Firms/local enablers) place to live. No doubt between this and the constant onslaught of Data Centers, utility increases, Urban Growth expansions being bought off, etc., that it is time to pick which side you want to be on.
I’m with the residents —and I am supporting them in every way I can!
Jupiter Energy BESS Battery Facility In Hillsboro Threatens Neighborhood Safety And Property Values
Neighbors Confront County Over Mishandled Notice in Jupiter Battery Case
