Wilson County planners approved site plans Sept. 19 for two proposed battery-storage facilities owned or operated by Middle Tennessee Electric: the Central Pike Storage Facility (access off Lohman Road) and a site behind the Cairo Bend substation at 8064 Coles Ferry Pike. Staff recommended approval for both plans with technical corrections and stipulated review and sign-off by the county fire marshal before final permitting.

Christopher, planning staff, described the projects as electrical storage systems that charge during off-peak hours and discharge during peak demand. He told the commission the county would require the developer to work with the fire marshal and that screening and avoidance of floodplain areas were conditions of approval: “All 4 corners of the property. Before we approve a site plan, these will be reviewed by our fire marshal that would enforce that to international fire code,” Christopher said.

Adam Crunk of Crunk Engineering, the civil engineer on the Central Pike project, explained the electrical connection: “The lines that are currently on the site, those 3 phase lines will just be connected to this battery storage system… there will be a new line connecting from the electric lines that are there to the batteries, but otherwise there's no upgrades to the lines that are on that site.” He added Middle Tennessee Electric and its contractor would coordinate with Gladeville Utilities about a water line noted in staff comments.

Public commenters asked about containment, leakage risk and regulatory oversight. Alex Becker, who identified himself as a resident and attendee, asked whether environmental safeguards and inspections would be in place given a creek near the Central Pike site. An attendee who said neighbors were "not fully in favor" asked whether regulators had completed environmental reviews and whether the installations could be completed before winter.

Commissioners and staff discussed containment and firefighting procedures for the battery systems; staff said the fire marshal would require plans and that NFPA (fire code) procedures would apply. One commissioner moved to approve both site plans with the condition that the fire marshal sign off on safety and containment details; the motion passed.