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Residents and board raise safety questions about battery storage; board agrees to study moratorium
Summary
After a lengthy presentation on technical and fire‑safety risks, the town's comprehensive plan committee asked the Town of Goshen Board to consider a moratorium on battery energy storage systems pending study; residents and fire service voices urged caution.
Town planning and comprehensive‑plan committee members urged caution on battery energy storage systems (BESS), briefing the board on fire‑safety, environmental and operational risks and asking for time to research zoning, emergency response and required equipment specifications.
Phil (Comprehensive Plan committee) listed hazards the committee identified — thermal runaway from lithium‑ion cells, arc‑flash or overvoltage risks, toxic gas releases during fires, fire‑suppression difficulties, disposal challenges and cyber vulnerabilities — and recommended a moratorium while the town studies safeguards. Phil said, "...when zoning board of appeals gave them waivers on everything that I asked for..." and expressed concern that manufacturer data and independent safety answers were incomplete in prior presentations.
Multiple public speakers and a fire‑service commenter supported deeper study. One resident asked for an independent, neutral fire expert to review claims made by project proponents; another speaker said BESS fires can take days to self‑extinguish and can release hazardous combustion products. Speaker 4 (public commenter) said, "While these battery industry storage systems are burning less frequently, they are still burning...it's not ready for prime time."
Board members noted there are active applications in the zoning process (two sites on Harley Road) and discussed options including a temporary moratorium, requiring special‑permit conditions that specify installed equipment and safety protocols, or joint public hearings with neighboring jurisdictions. Speaker 1 said the town would require full equipment specifications if projects seek special permits and warned that equipment resale or changing operators complicates long‑term protections.
No formal moratorium was enacted at the meeting; the board agreed to further study and to coordinate potential next steps with planning, the fire department and legal counsel. The board asked staff to return with a proposed timeline and to consider public hearings involving all affected boards.
