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Auburn imposes six-month moratorium on commercial battery energy storage facilities
Summary
After a public hearing and comments from residents, the Auburn City Council adopted a six-month moratorium on permitting for commercial energy storage system facilities to allow staff to craft zoning, development and construction regulations.
The Auburn City Council on May 5 adopted Ordinance No. 69 78, imposing a six-month temporary moratorium on acceptance, processing and approval of building and land-use applications for commercial energy storage system facilities within city limits.
Council member Tracy Taylor moved adoption of the ordinance; Council member Ammer seconded. The ordinance passed after a public hearing at which residents raised safety and siting concerns, including the risk of fires and hazardous emissions from battery facilities and the importance of locating such facilities away from schools and homes.
Resident Ronnie Morgan, who identifies himself as living in North Auburn, spoke during the public hearing and urged the council to "support the moratorium," saying he had seen fires and incidents involving batteries in his work and expressing concern about potential air impacts, evacuation radii and long-term contamination. Written comments submitted for the hearing included statements from Rebecca Kolday, James DeLay and Trinit Nelson supporting the moratorium, and a written comment from Julian Lowe supporting a facility in Auburn.
Council members said the moratorium will give city staff time to develop appropriate land-use, zoning and construction standards specific to energy storage technologies and chemistries. Council member Tracy Taylor summarized the ordinance’s purpose: it will "allow city staff to develop appropriate zoning, development, and construction regulations for these types of systems." The ordinance places a temporary halt on new permitting for these facilities while that work proceeds.
Public commenters suggested the ordinance specify battery chemistries and safety standards. Bonnie Helms, who recently moved from Auburn, urged the council to "keep the moratorium and vote yes on it" and recommended that future ordinances reference battery chemistry because performance and hazard profiles differ by chemistry.
The ordinance now directs staff to draft regulations and return to the council with recommended code language. The council did not adopt a timeline for staff work or an implementation schedule in the meeting record; staff previously presented background on the issue at an April 28 study session.
