BATON ROUGE - The Southern University Board of Supervisors is exploring the possibility of having a massive battery energy storage system on campus land. 

The Land Grant Energy Security Alliance proposed a deal to operate the system on 50 acres of Southern University land for 25 years for $500,000 per year.

During Southern's monthly board of supervisors meeting on Aug. 21, board members scrutinized the proposed contract. 

"The ambiguity of this scares the living daylights out of me," Chairman Attorney Tony Clayton said.

After rounds of questions for Andrew East, a representative who attended on behalf of LGESA, the board approved a letter of intent to go forward with a proposed equity partnership. 

Board member Edwin Shorty said now there will be discussions with a utility partner. 

"This is just the first step in starting a conversation," he said.