WHEATLAND, Wis. — The company behind the controversial Robin Energy Storage battery project announced it will hold a public “Community Forum” in Bristol as opposition to the proposed facility continues to intensify across Wheatland and surrounding communities.

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According to a flyer distributed by the company, the event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kenosha County Center, 19600 75th St., Bristol. The notice states that “members of the project team, including safety, hydrology and project development specialists, will be on hand for a moderated community conversation.”

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The forum follows months of public pushback over the proposed battery facility, including prior Wheatland meetings where residents raised concerns about lithium battery fires, toxic gas releases, groundwater contamination, evacuation logistics, falling property values, insurance impacts, and the proximity of the proposed site to Wheatland Center School.

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At previous public meetings, residents also criticized the company’s answers to questions about fire suppression, emergency response, environmental safeguards, and long-term liability. Several residents described Robin Energy as a “shell company” and said company representatives failed to adequately answer many of their concerns.

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The controversy has also focused heavily on transparency. Town Chairman Jeff Butler previously acknowledged participating in a private meeting after the Town Plan Commission’s unanimous recommendation against the project. That meeting involved Samantha Kerkman, the town attorney, project representatives, and Fire Chief Louis Denko. Residents have said the timing of that meeting fueled concerns that efforts to advance the project were continuing behind closed doors despite local opposition.

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The land proposed for the project is owned by the Catherine H. Kerkman Irrevocable Income Only Trust, which bears the Kerkman family name and is believed by multiple sources to be connected by blood to Chad Kerkman. Samantha Kerkman is Chad Kerkman’s ex-wife, and several residents have publicly questioned why the county executive appeared involved in discussions surrounding the project despite the divorce and despite the project being a town-level matter rather than a county decision. No public official has disclosed the precise relationship between the trust and the proposed project on the record.

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Residents have also questioned whether the project could move to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission after the developer withdrew from the local approval process. Opponents fear a state-level route could limit local control and potentially open the door to eminent domain.

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The issue has become more politically charged because of proposed state legislation that would create annual utility aid payments for municipalities hosting battery storage facilities. For a 200-megawatt facility, the proposal could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in utility aid payments split between local governments. Multiple residents have suggested they believe the potential financial incentives are part of the reason the project continues to advance despite widespread public opposition.

The May 19 forum appears to be Robin Energy’s latest effort to address public opposition directly, even as many Wheatland residents continue urging local officials to fight the project rather than help revive it.