Cass County adopts ordinance regulating battery energy storage in unincorporated areas after public safety and notification concerns

The Cass County Commission on Sept. 10 adopted Ordinance 25-07 to add a new section to county zoning regulations relating to battery energy storage facilities. The planning board had recommended approval by a 6-0 vote; the commission adopted the ordinance on a recorded vote of 3-0.

County planning staff told the commission the county previously had no specific regulations for energy storage; the ordinance is intended to establish parameters because the county had received calls expressing interest, even though no formal applications have been submitted.

During the public comment period several residents spoke against allowing battery storage facilities to be sited in rural unincorporated areas. Ed Stamps of Hatfield said he learned of the proposal from a notice stapled to a fence and questioned the sufficiency of the county’s notification process. Stamps said the county’s notice postings and township mailings prompted his interest, but added, “It smells funny to me,” and said he would prefer the county to prohibit such facilities rather than permit them in rural areas.

David Tucker, who also lives on South Hatfield Road, said he was concerned about siting the facilities “in the corner of Cass County” near neighboring counties and the risk of contamination reaching groundwater used by cattle. Tucker said he favored county growth but opposed development that “could catch on fire” and pollute the environment.

A county official confirmed that, as of the meeting, no applications for battery energy storage facilities had been filed. The commission closed public comment and voted to adopt Ordinance 25-07.

The meeting record shows the county set a separate public hearing schedule later in the meeting for unrelated land applications.