WENDELL — New Leaf Energy has nixed the controversial battery storage facility it had proposed for 68 Wendell Depot Road, and members of a local citizens’ committee formed in opposition to the project are ready to celebrate.

No Assault & Batteries (NAB) has planned a Thursday, Aug. 22, celebration for the Wendell Meetinghouse, and attendees can expect refreshments, updates and a discussion of plans for future action.

“We are going to, first of all, take a little bit of time to mark the milestone of New Leaf’s departure,” said No Assault & Batteries member Court Dorsey. “We feel that it’s really important for all of us to be able to celebrate when we think things have gone well and we want to take a little bit of time to do that.”

New Leaf Energy, a Lowell-based developer of renewable energy and energy storage projects, pulled the plug on its proposed 105-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage facility, citing changes in the interconnection process and the Legislature’s failure to pass a climate bill this summer.

Project developer Ben Torda previously explained the federal government implemented changes to the interconnection process, which connects a facility to the electric grid. He said these changes are a net positive for the industry but made the proposed Wendell Depot Road project unfeasible. He also mentioned that New Leaf Energy had expected the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a sweeping climate bill that would have established state procurement for energy storage projects, but the Senate and House were unable to agree on a mutually acceptable version before the legislative session ended.

Dorsey said No Assault & Batteries members intend to remain vigilant “and not just go to sleep because New Leaf has departed.” Members want to balance celebrating the joy they feel while also not letting down their guard. He mentioned Thursday’s celebration will also serve as an opportunity to express gratitude to No Assault & Batteries’ partners, such as Wendell’s various boards and committees and the town of Leverett.

The Leverett Selectboard had sent a letter to the state assistant attorney general to advocate in favor of a bylaw Wendell residents adopted to deal with the licensing of battery energy storage systems. Under the bylaw, any battery energy storage system with a power rating greater than 1 megawatt and no more than 10 megawatts would require approval from the Wendell Licensing Board, which would be made up of Selectboard members as well as one member appointed each from the Conservation Commission, Board of Health, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Energy Committee, Municipal Light Board and Finance Committee. No battery energy storage proposal greater than 10 megawatts would be licensed.

“It’s important that we take this moment to thank the people that have shown up for us,” Dorsey said.

No Assault & Batteries member Anna Gyorgy said she intends to speak Thursday about the group’s next steps. She explained this endeavor has illustrated to her and her peers the struggle that small towns face when it comes to siting and permitting massive projects.

“I definitely feel a sense of relief, but we’re kind of back to where we were,” she said.

Gyorgy also said her main concern boils down to one question: “Is western Mass going to be the resource colony of eastern Mass?”

Later this year, No Assault & Batteries members also plan to share a booth with Wendell’s Energy and Open Space committees at Wendell Old Home Day on Sept. 21, and the group will be the beneficiary of a concert taking place at Town Hall, specifically the Wendell Full Moon Coffeehouse, at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 16. Rani Arbo will perform.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.