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Commission approves county text amendment to allow battery energy storage by special permit in AG district
Summary
The planning commission voted 8–0 to approve a text amendment adding a battery energy storage system use to the Lancaster County AG Agricultural District as a special‑permit use, with conditions for safety, setbacks and health‑department oversight; staff said site‑specific special permits will allow additional setbacks and screening.
The Lincoln–Lancaster County Planning Commission on July 23 approved text amendment 25009 to add battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a use allowed in the Lancaster County Agricultural (AG) zoning district by special permit. The vote was 8–0.
Planning staff described the proposed county language as similar to a recent city ordinance and said the county version would allow BESS in the AG district by special permit and impose conditions that could require emergency action plans, submission of safety data sheets, and compliance with health‑department sound recommendations. Staff noted proposed county language does not include the specific enhanced setback and screening amendments the city adopted for particular projects; those would be applied as conditions in individual special permits.
Health department staff addressed life‑safety and community health concerns. Chris Schroeder, Lincoln–Lancaster County Health Department, said fire risk is the main public‑health concern but that industry practice typically includes built‑in fire‑suppression and isolation systems; he told commissioners “all smoke is toxic” and recommended noise limits consistent with the city’s noise ordinance. Schroeder described typical sound limits for AGR zoning as 60 dB daytime and 50 dB night for areas of greatest sensitivity, noting “50 decibels is fairly quiet.”
An applicant representative, David Levy, said the amendment would permit stand‑alone utility‑scale storage facilities—usually sited adjacent to substations to minimize transmission connections—and that units are widely used to stabilize the grid. Levy referenced national manufacturing and safety standards cited in the industry, including UL 1973, UL 9540 and NFPA 855, and said manufacturers and operators increasingly follow those standards.
Commissioners discussed siting concerns and the county’s ability to require additional setbacks and heavier screening on a case‑by‑case basis through the special‑permit process. Staff and the applicant emphasized that a text amendment does not approve any specific project; each installation would come through the special‑permit public‑hearing process.
The commission approved the county text amendment 8–0. Staff noted that proposed BESS projects will be evaluated with case‑specific special‑permit conditions addressing setbacks, screening, sound, fire‑safety coordination with local fire districts, and required safety documentation for health and building departments.
Clarifying details from the hearing: staff said projects would be subject to applicable building and fire codes (including NFPA 855) and that safety data sheets would be provided to the health department; the county ordinance requires applicants to demonstrate compatibility with adjacent uses and allows the Planning Commission to impose setbacks and screening at the special‑permit stage.
