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Fairfax staff propose zoning standards and safety rules for large battery energy storage systems
Summary
Staff proposed a draft zoning amendment to treat large battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a defined use with thresholds, setbacks, emergency plans and decommissioning requirements; staff sought input on a threshold range (greater than 600 kWh to up to 10 MWh) and on financial security for decommissioning.
County zoning staff presented a draft zoning ordinance amendment that would add use‑specific standards for large battery energy storage systems (BESS), including thresholds, setback rules, emergency planning and decommissioning requirements.
Jackie Camp (Zoning Administration) told the committee staff are proposing to treat large‑scale BESS as part of the light utility facility use with a new, specific definition and an energy‑capacity threshold range under consideration from greater than 600 kilowatt‑hours (kWh) — drawn from NFPA 855 guidance — up to 10 megawatt‑hours (MWh) based on municipal examples. Systems below the…
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