Moffat County approves zone change and conditional use for Morrill Energy battery storage project

The Moffat County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve a zone change and a conditional use permit on Sept. 23 to allow the Morrill Energy Storage Project to move forward on state land near the Craig Station.

The approvals cover zone change R2502 (agricultural to heavy industrial for a defined project site) and conditional use permit C2508 for a utility‑scale battery energy storage facility. Christie Eichorn of Plus Power, the project developer, described the proposal as a 200‑megawatt system designed to discharge for four hours and said the project "can power for 4 hours, tens of thousands of homes." She added, "Safety is our top priority," and described certifications and planned coordination with local fire and emergency services.

Why it matters: Commissioners and planners said the project would increase the county tax base and create construction jobs while anchoring the Craig substation as an energy hub. Neighbors and the planning board pressed the developer on access, stormwater containment, visual screening and emergency response; the county attached conditions…