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Committee opposes governor—s utility siting bill citing loss of local control
Summary
Members voted to oppose House Bill 1036, which committee members said would remove local authority over siting of certain generating stations and battery facilities. Council member Ed Burrows described a recent proposal for a battery storage facility in his district that was halted after local opposition; the committee asked staff to coordinate
Members expressed concern that House Bill 1036 would curtail local zoning authority over siting of large energy facilities, including battery storage. "If it were not for our council member representing District 8, Ed Burrows, we would have had one of these situations in Oxon Hill," a county representative said, recounting an example in which a proposed utility-scale lithium battery storage facility raised community opposition and was stopped after local advocacy. Burrows said the episode illustrated why local control matters for siting decisions.
Committee members said they oppose the bill because it would remove a county's ability to regulate siting that affects neighborhoods. Vice Chair Juanica Fisher moved and Council member Ed Burrows seconded a motion to oppose HB 1036; the motion passed on roll call with the ayes recorded and the committee registering opposition for the county. The county executive's office had signaled opposition earlier and staff noted that the bill had been the subject of statewide coordination among counties and Mako.
