Oakham BEST Committee Lines Up Town Officials to Speak at October 16 Battery Storage Hearing

OAKHAM — October 8, 2025 — Oakham's BEST Committee finalizes speaker lineup and logistics for October 16 Energy Facilities Siting Board hearing on proposed battery storage facility. At the committee's fourth meeting, held October 8, members confirmed that representatives of the Select Board, Conservation Commission, Planning Board, Board of Health, police department, fire department, and highway department are all expected to deliver statements at the hearing, with the committee itself also planning a formal presentation. The town's recent Special Town Meeting vote of 73 to 2 to add $75,000 to the town legal fund from stabilization was cited as a resource that will allow more energetic engagement of town counsel as the proceeding advances. An acoustical consulting contract was awarded to Noise Control Engineering, led by Bill Ricca, selected from three competing proposals. Members flagged pedestrian safety as a serious concern given an anticipated crowd of up to 500 at a venue that seats 450, and discussed using the school athletic field for overflow parking and deploying temporary lighting trailers in the school's darkened lot. The committee will meet again October 15 at 6:30 p.m. for final preparations.