Kerr County hires consultant to draft battery storage resolution and expands subregional outreach on energy projects
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Summary
Kerr County approved a small professional-services contract to draft a resolution and best-practice guidance on battery energy storage facilities, and commissioners heard a subregional update on coordination with state regulators.
Kerr County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize a professional services agreement, not to exceed $3,500, with the Fire Protection Consulting Group to draft a county resolution and provide professional input on best-practice fire protection and emergency response for lithium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Commissioner Jones and staff described recent meetings with the firm and noted that the court has already had to defer at least one project to the State Fire Marshal—s office. The consultant—s scope is to prepare a written resolution and recommended local procedures the county could use when reviewing proposed battery energy storage facilities and to identify limits of local authority versus state jurisdiction.
Separately, the court received a briefing on activities by the Hill Country Energy Subregional Planning Commission, which has invited additional county partners and is seeking briefings from state agencies including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Public Utility Commission, and ERCOT about permitting, grid interconnection and oversight of battery storage projects. The commission reported interest from neighboring Gillespie County in joining the subregional planning commission because of local proposals and projects near Willow Springs and Harper.
Commissioners said they were pressing for greater coordination and clarity on regulatory roles, emissions, safety standards, and community notice for proposed facilities. Court members instructed staff to continue outreach to state agencies and to ask for formal briefings; the professional services agreement was approved unanimously.
