Editor’s note: Last Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Cicero/Jackson Township Plan Commission sent an unfavorable recommendation of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposed by Aypa Power to the Cicero Town Council.
As recently as Monday, Jan. 19, the agenda posted on the Town’s website for the Council’s Tuesday, Jan. 20 meeting included discussion of the Plan Commission’s unfavorable recommendation. However, in a real power move, at some point on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Town’s website was updated with the following statement from Council President Joe Cox.
As of press time, discussion of the BESS plan is slated for the Town Council’s Tuesday, Feb. 3 meeting. The Reporter will update our readers as necessary.
Cicero, Jackson Township, and surrounding residents.
*BESS will NOT be on the Agenda for Tuesday night’s council meeting. There will be no discussion or vote on this topic*
As you are aware, there is a BESS proposal currently working through the petition process. The petitioner had requested that this be added to the Town Council agenda for the Tuesday, 1/20/2026 Council meeting.
A project of this complexity requires extensive due diligence, and all aspects must be considered to make an informed decision. We as a council perform due diligence on projects whether they are supported or not supported. It is extremely important to have a full understanding of ALL impacts, both positive and negative to the long-term outlook and best interest of our community.
It is imperative that we fully understand the ins and outs of this type of proposal. Each petition provides an invaluable learning opportunity and experience to help us better manage future proposals. We do not feel that we have been provided with adequate time to complete this necessary due diligence from a legal, environmental, financial, or planning standpoint.
I would anticipate that this topic will be on the 2/3/2026 Town Council meeting agenda. It will likely be a council discussion, but I do not anticipate a vote at that meeting either. We would like to utilize our own team of resources to assist in the discovery process. The Town Council will be engaging consultants with expertise in this field, including an environmental consultant, in the coming weeks to analyze the project and advise the council.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.
Thank you,
Joe Cox
Cicero Town Council
