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Caroline County moves to extend moratorium on standalone battery energy storage; staff directed to draft resolution
Summary
Planning and codes director Crystal Dazs told commissioners the county moratorium on battery energy storage facilities is due to expire March 31; commissioners instructed staff to draft a resolution to extend the moratorium while state legislative and regulatory activity continues.
Crystal Dazs, director of Caroline County Planning and Codes, asked the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 4 whether the board wanted to extend a local moratorium on standalone battery energy storage facilities, which is set to expire March 31.
Dazs said several inquiries have come to the county from parties interested in siting battery energy storage systems as the sole use on properties, separate from solar arrays. Commissioners expressed concern about unanswered safety and fire suppression questions and about inconsistent state action. One commissioner said he was prepared to “keep it on for as long as we have to” and to defend the moratorium in court if necessary; another suggested a one‑year extension pending legislative developments.
The board directed planning staff to draft a resolution extending the moratorium (staff indicated it could be written as an annual extension if commissioners preferred). Commissioners said they would revisit the item after the legislative session to see whether the state had provided clearer guidance or preempted local authority.
Ending: Staff will prepare a draft resolution to extend the moratorium and place it on a future agenda; no formal roll‑call vote was recorded during the Feb. 4 discussion.
