Take action to stop environmental racism and prevent a dangerous Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facility from being built in the heart of the majority Black community of historic Oxon Hill, Prince George’s County, Maryland!

BESS facilities come with known fire and explosion risks and unknown long-term risks to health and safety. When facilities elsewhere malfunctioned, they leaked flammable gasses that led to catastrophic explosions. When fires occur, the toxic and lethal flammable gasses released cannot be stopped using traditional firefighting methods.

BESS facilities support renewable energy; we are not against these facilities in general. However, given the risks, we believe these facilities should be far from where people live and work.

The proposed facility in Oxon Hill would be in the middle of a busy and vibrant residential neighborhood, less than 200 feet from a daycare center and residential homes. The other proposed location for a facility is in a predominantly white Maryland suburb, Rockville, deep in the woods and miles away from the closest residence. The Oxon Hill location was chosen because it would be “cost-effective” with no input from the community and little consideration of the risks to neighbors, children, public safety, or house values.

Maryland PEPCO is owned by the Exelon Corporation, the largest electric company in the US. They have a long, dark history of placing environmental hazards in locations that jeopardize health, wealth, and safety in Black and Brown communities. It’s no coincidence that the Rockville location is a safe distance from residents, but the Oxon Hill location is in a thriving neighborhood. This is environmental racism! We need you to help the Oxon Hill community fight back!

Tell legislators and administrators to take a stand against environmental racism and prevent this dangerous facility from being built in Oxon Hill!