County staff say battery storage and new wind projects are active; supervisors note permitting and safety questions

County zoning and planning staff updated supervisors on developer inquiries about battery energy storage and wind turbine projects in the southern part of the county. Staff said Align Energy is discussing a battery facility near Alexander that would be adjacent to an existing substation site, and that questions have also arisen about potential future wind turbines, including whether changes in turbine size could alter the number of turbines originally approved in conditional-use permits.

Staff said Align Energy has asked what local requirements would apply for a conditional-use permit and that fire-safety planning — including water supply and firefighting resources for battery incidents — would be part of the local review and ordinances. Staff noted that some communities responding to similar projects have installed high-capacity well systems or tanks and other fire-suppression measures; county zoning would require applicants to engage local fire departments and address emergency response in permit conditions.

Supervisors and staff also discussed a county cap on turbines and the possibility that developers might install fewer but larger turbines if limits are size-based. One resident’s account relayed to staff said a parent farm expected three turbines but that larger units could change separations and the number sited. Staff said the board of adjustment retains authority to grant or deny conditional-use permits and that any specific permit application would require public notice, local review and, if necessary, board of adjustment action.

Staff emphasized the county’s role in ordinance enforcement and conditional-use review and encouraged developers and residents to use the conditional-use permit process to surface specific safety, siting, and emergency-preparedness questions for the county and local fire departments to evaluate.