Commission backs East Brighton battery storage project, forwards special-use recommendation to Common Council with safety and outreach conditions

The Syracuse Planning Commission approved three linked applications for a proposed 5-megawatt battery energy storage project at 426 East Brighton Ave.: a re-subdivision (R-25-41), a major site plan review (MASPR-25-18), and a recommendation on a special-use permit (SP-25-24) that will go to the Common Council for final action. The commission attached conditions requiring continued collaboration with the fire department and city agencies on safety and access, and the re-subdivision approval included a condition tying county filing to Common Council action on the special-use permit.

Terrence Nolan of New Leaf Energy summarized the project’s purpose and siting, saying the batteries are sited near an existing National Grid substation to provide local grid resiliency. "These batteries have the capacity each to power approximately 3 to 3,500…