Halsted residents urge Harvey County to press city on battery-storage moratorium to protect Equus Beds

Several residents of Halsted and nearby rural areas urged the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on March 25 to press the city of Halsted to apply the county's existing restrictions on commercial battery energy storage systems inside the city limits or to adopt a short moratorium while planners study the issue.

At the commissioners' public comment period, Kevin Henderson, who identified himself as a Halsted resident, said Halsted's recent planning-and-zoning meeting drew more than 80 people and that attendees asked the city to align its rules with what Henderson called the county's ban on commercial battery storage to protect the Equus Beds aquifer. "A lot of water for Harvey County comes from the plant just two miles east of Halsted," Henderson said. He added that if a storage facility has an incident near the Equus Beds, "this could be a very serious disaster for everybody in Harvey County and beyond."

Henderson pointed to two California incidents where battery-storage fires led to toxic smoke and contamination of agricultural land and said Halsted residents want to avoid similar risks. "In Moss Landing, California ... they've had fires that were resulting in clouds of toxic pollutants," he said. "I don't think we need to do that in the breadbasket of Kansas."

Other residents told commissioners the Halsted planning-and-zoning hearing was orderly and well attended. Ron Beck, a Halsted resident, said the meeting drew citizens from the city and the county and that commission members should expect civil engagement on the topic. "We were not an unhinged mob," Beck said. He added that the planning commission expanded the draft rules after reviewing new information presented by residents.

Peter Reversa, who lives south of Halsted, urged the board to consider emergency response implications in the event of a smoke or chemical release, saying local first responders and residents must be able to plan safe evacuations.

Why it matters: Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are increasingly proposed near substations to support the grid, but some designs and installations have raised safety and siting concerns. The Equus Beds are a regionally important groundwater source; several speakers at the meeting said parts of Harvey County rely on that aquifer and that Halsted sits adjacent to a portion of the resource. Residents asked the county to send a formal message to Halsted officials supporting either enforcement of the county's restrictions or a time-limited moratorium while the city evaluates safety, siting and emergency-response plans.

What commissioners said: The commission did not take formal action during the March 25 meeting. County staff and commissioners acknowledged they would be available to Halsted planners and that the planning process should consider groundwater protection and emergency response plans. No county ordinance or new binding directive was adopted at the meeting.

Context and next steps: Speakers asked the county to clarify whether county rules apply inside city limits and referenced "Article 13" as a regulatory reference; one speaker asked commissioners to urge Halsted to comply with the county's rules or pass a five-year moratorium while the city and county address the issue. County staff did not present a formal legal opinion during the meeting; residents were told the planning commission would continue its review and that elected officials could be asked for support. The city of Halsted, its planning commission and county staff were referenced repeatedly during public comment; the Halsted planning-and-zoning file and any draft ordinances will determine whether the city applies county restrictions or pursues a separate local rule.

Ending: Residents asked the commission to remain engaged as Halsted continues its planning review. Commissioners gave no timeline for formal direction but heard repeated requests from constituents to help protect groundwater supplies and ensure emergency response planning for any battery-storage installations.