Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
State Fire Marshal briefs Kerr County on battery energy storage risks and local options
Summary
State Fire Marshal staff told Kerr County officials that NFPA standards require emergency plans, separation distances and inspections for large battery energy storage systems; commissioners discussed appointing a county fire marshal, water availability for responses and runoff containment.
Deputy Chief Kelly Stalder and Chief Engineer Eric DeArmond of the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office visited the Kerr County Commissioners Court on Jan. 27 to brief the court on fire-safety requirements for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
The presentation focused on NFPA 855, the standard the state adopts for BESS installations 20 kilowatt-hours or larger, and what the county should expect if large utility-scale storage is proposed in or near the county.
Why it matters
Commissioners and staff said the county is fielding inquiries about large battery storage proposals in the region. Kerr County has limited municipal water supply in many rural areas; commissioners raised concerns about how water used to fight a BESS fire would be stored and contained — both for firefighting effectiveness and for protecting groundwater and the Edwards aquifer.
What the state fire marshal said
- NFPA 855 applies to battery electric storage…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
