Local residents gathered at the Austin County Courthouse on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. for a public forum on the proposed installation of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Wallis. Representatives from GoodPeak, the company behind the project, attended the meeting to answer questions and address concerns from community members.

Purpose of the Meeting

The open forum was designed to give Austin County residents a chance to hear directly from the developers, learn about the technology, and voice any questions or fears about how the project might impact the community. Topics ranged from safety and environmental impact to how the system would connect into the local grid.

A video recording of the full meeting is available below for those who could not attend in person.  The BESS meeting begins at the 1 hour 5 Minite mark of the video:

 

 

About GoodPeak

GoodPeak is a Houston-based energy company focused on developing utility-scale battery storage projects and solar solutions. The firm’s portfolio includes multiple projects across Texas and California, with plans to integrate energy storage into high-demand areas of the state’s grid.

In April 2025, GoodPeak secured financing to begin construction on two 10-megawatt battery storage projects in the Houston region. The company describes its mission as helping stabilize the electrical grid, support renewable energy growth, and provide infrastructure for future demand, including artificial intelligence and data centers.

What is a BESS?

A Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is essentially a large-scale rechargeable battery facility. These systems store electricity when production is high—such as during peak solar or wind generation—and release it back to the grid when demand is greater than supply.

BESS units are increasingly used across Texas and the United States to:

  • Provide backup power during outages.

  • Stabilize the grid by helping manage frequency and voltage.

  • Support the integration of renewable energy.

The proposed Wallis project would be connected to the ERCOT grid and sized to provide multi-megawatt backup capacity.

Looking Ahead

While the forum was intended to ease concerns, questions remain about the long-term impact of large-scale energy storage projects in rural areas. Residents are encouraged to review the meeting video and continue engaging with county officials as the project moves through planning and permitting stages.

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