Council discusses moratorium on large battery-storage projects, tables for more research

The La Conner Town Council held an extended discussion about a proposed moratorium on large commercial battery-storage (electrical energy storage) facilities within town limits but did not adopt a moratorium at the meeting.

Michael Wirtz, a town staff member, summarized outreach to the Port and utility provider PSE; the port opposed unregulated siting and offered to work with the town on regulations. Staff said there are groups in Skagit County already working on standards and that commercial battery-storage proposals elsewhere had prompted safety concerns. Council members and staff described technical fire-suppression and containment considerations and said that large installations require planning for water supply, containment and long-term incident response.

Council discussion split. Several members urged more study rather than an immediate ban, noting the town’s school system has a grant-funded battery resiliency project that could be affected. Others said a moratorium would buy time to draft safety rules tailored to commercial-scale installations and suggested any moratorium be limited to commercial and industrial zones or to exclude public-school projects. The council agreed to gather additional information, work with the port and utility providers, and return with a draft ordinance or a revised proposal at a future meeting. Staff and council asked for more detail on exemptions (for schools and public facilities) and zone-based limits.

No formal moratorium was adopted at this meeting; staff were directed to research technical requirements and draft options for council consideration.