Battery storage moratorium approved in Village of Wilson | Local News | lockportjournal.com

WILSON — The village board has approved a moratorium on the development of renewable energy systems that utilize battery storage.

The board unanimously approved a 12-month halt to village processing of any applications for permits related to “large-scale battery energy storage system installation” often associated with renewable energy projects at its regular business meeting Thursday evening.

Following a public hearing last month, village officials previously tabled a vote on the moratorium after some residents who spoke said the draft was too “broad” and should specifically spell out which type of battery storage systems would not be allowed.

“We kind of found some more reasoning to keep it restrictive based on the fires and all the different changes that the state is looking to implement,” village Trustee Greg Martin said.

The moratorium states “systems typically used to provide standby or emergency power and/or an uninterruptible power supply, load sharing or similar capabilities relating to the energy consumed by a residence, farm operation on site shall not be considered Large-Scale Battery Energy Storage System Installation ...”

It further identifies “large-scale” battery storage systems as those that generate more than 5 megawatts.

While there are no such current sites or proposed projects utilizing battery storage in the village, the moratorium would act as a “safety measure” while they look to spell out policy on battery storage.

Just like multiple other neighboring municipalities, the board is considering action on battery storage systems that the towns of Royalton, Somerset and Wilson, took in the wake of a July 2023 incident in Lyme, Jefferson County, where four lithium battery storage trailers caught fire at a Convergent Energy solar installation.

“There is a vast clutter of information that I think we need to take into account,” village Trustee Gary Darnell said. “We're not trying to be restrictive to the property owners and what they do on our properties, but more so being safe.”

There is also an option to extend the moratorium by another six months when the current one expires.

“We're not saying no to this. It's just a temporary moratorium so that we can collect more information and make sure that we do our homework,” Darnell said.

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