Eolian has started construction on its 200 MW/1.06 GWh Flint Grid battery energy storage project in Licking County, Ohio.
The 5.3-hour duration system is being built next to the New Albany data center and industrial load and is the largest BESS in Ohio and on the PJM grid footprint.
Eolian is working with grid operators, regulators, and other industry stakeholders on research and policy measures to fully integrate big batteries into wholesale electricity markets.
These measures include devising technical frameworks for optimal bidding protocols, new market products for energy storage participation, resource adequacy and capacity accreditation, as well as revenue optimization across multiple wholesale market segments.
Eolian’s founder and CEO, Aaron Zubaty, emphasized the developer’s position that BESS can provide fast responding, flexible capacity to back up and stabilize the traditional grid. He added that projects like Flint Grid should be recognized for their ability to balance demand from data centers and other heavy industrial energy users.
According to the Flint Grid Project website, the facility is being constructed very near a completed Amazon AWS data center, as well as a Meta data center and a Google data center both under construction.
“There’s growing consternation about how the US can rapidly scale infrastructure to support America’s growing electricity demand, but not nearly enough conversation about how to use existing technology to unlock the wasted capacity that already exists on the grid” said Zubaty.
“Flint Grid demonstrates how companies like Eolian have been investing in solutions to unlock the grid and reduce price pressures on consumers using proven and scalable technology. This project requires hundreds of millions of dollars to construct, and we committed the necessary capital and resources years before today’s demand forecasts became headline news.”
The CEO called on policymakers to avoid undermining long-term investments that could make good use of existing transmission infrastructure as they consider changes to competitive electricity markets.
Eolian’s Flint Grid BESS is the first grid-scale BESS permitted by the Ohio Siting Board and is the first large-scale battery energy storage system to qualify for the PJM capacity market and the largest battery storage system to clear the 2027/28 Residual Capacity Auction, representing more than 50% of all new battery storage capacity in that capacity year. It has been in development since 2018 and is expected to begin commercial operation ahead of the 2027-2028 PJM capacity year.
Besides Flint Grid, Eolian has funded or developed more than 4 GW of commercialized BESS projects across the United States. In Jan. 2026, Eolian, which is backed by Global Infrastructure Partners, now part of BlackRock, partnered with data center developer CyrusOne on a new data center in Texas that will use the existing grid interconnection owned by Eolian’s Chishold Grid BESS.
Microgrid
Also in Ohio, Veolia has been selected as a project developer to operate and maintain a 350 MW microgrid and 430 MWh BESS which will support an unnamed data center, providing 100% of its power requirements and taking it off the main electricity grid.
The microgrid will integrate BESS, gas engines, linear generators, and medium-voltage infrastructure. It will be located in New Albany and according to local news outlet The Columbus Dispatch Veolia was asked not to name the client and it has been brought on to the project ahead of its commercial readiness. Besides energy, Veolia specializes in water and waste management worldwide.
“Our work on this project shows how Veolia can help developers accelerate speed-to-power while maintaining the reliability required for mission-critical AI operations, all while protecting the community,” said Karin Hamel, CEO of Veolia Energy, North America and Chief Growth Officer for Veolia in North America.
Meanwhile, the West Chicago City Council announced a temporary 180-day moratorium on new data centers and BESS on July 20. The council said the temporary ban would give it time to study their uses and benefits and consider zoning policies for data centers and BESS being proposed throughout the Chicago region.
According to the City’s statement, West Chicago’s current zoning rules do not fully address “the unique features” of data centers and battery energy storage systems.
“The moratorium preserves current conditions while the City determines whether additional regulations are needed to protect the community and support its long-term goals,” the statement added. The City can extend or end the moratorium before the 180-day period is complete.
The City is asking residents, businesses, property owners, emergency responders, utility providers, industry representatives, and other interested stakeholders to help shape its approach.
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