Board reviews updated state guidance on battery energy storage; members voice safety concerns and desire for review or moratorium

Goshen Planning Board members reviewed updated New York State fire-code guidance for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and discussed a pending New Leaf application. Board members said the state guidance echoed many items the board and fire chiefs had already requested, but several members expressed continued concern about long-duration fires, airborne emissions, and emergency response capability.

What the board heard - Planning staff circulated updated New York State fire-code revisions specific to BESS. Staff said the new code addresses central station monitoring, emergency-response plans, site-specific fire-department training, signage, and response-time requirements; New Leaf has stated it will provide monitoring and training and an emergency plan. (4447.635, 4620.145) - Several board members and the transcript noted that best practices and industry experience are changing and that some jurisdictions have banned BESS entirely; Warwick…