Surry County planning commission approves conditional-use permit for 89-MW Bear Island battery storage, recommends project to Board of Supervisors

The Surry County Planning Commission on an unspecified date approved a conditional-use permit (CUP) for Bear Island Battery Storage LLC to build an 89-megawatt battery energy storage system (with a four-hour discharge duration) on parcel 54-1, a site described in the record as an AR‑zoned property on White Marsh Road in the Baker's Castle District.

The commission voted to approve CUP number 2025-01 and separately voted to recommend the permit, with the proposed conditions, to the Surry County Board of Supervisors. Commissioners also approved a separate “substantial accord” determination finding the proposal consistent with the county comprehensive plan.

Planning staff said the applicant proposes to place the battery and an associated switchyard and substation on roughly 32.5 acres inside the larger parcel, with the battery facility itself spanning about 10 acres. Staff described the project as an 89-megawatt nameplate system capable of delivering that output for about four hours — commonly characterized in the industry as “89 MW × 4 hours.” The proposed development lies within the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area and contains delimited wetlands and a resource protection area; staff said any wetlands impacts would be addressed during…