SYRACUSE, N.Y. - South Side residents near a proposed battery storage system fear that it could catch fire and pollute their community.

Beata Karpinska lives less than a quarter-mile from the proposed 426 E. Brighton Ave. site.

“They said the site isn’t close to residences, but it is,” she said.

There are houses nearby, student housing, an apartment building and a gas station across the street, she said.

“It would be a man-made disaster zone if it catches on fire,” Karpinska said.

Representatives from Troy-based New Leaf Energy argued Friday before Syracuse’s Economic Development Committee that the company should be granted a special-use permit to move the project forward.

The battery energy storage systems charge up using power from the grid when demand for electricity is lowest, at

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