Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Mesa council wrestles with 1,000‑foot battery‑storage separation amid industry warnings
Summary
Councilmembers debated a zoning text amendment that would permit battery energy storage systems under a new category but set a separation from residences (staff offered 400 or 1,000 feet). Supporters cited safety and precaution; opponents and SRP warned the larger distance could constrain clean‑energy capacity and economic development. The ordinance is scheduled for a Dec. 8 vote.
Mesa — Mesa councilmembers spent a large portion of Thursday’s study session debating a proposed ordinance that would allow commercial battery energy storage systems under city zoning but would require a minimum separation from residential property. The staff recommendation presented the council with two options — a 400‑foot separation and a 1,000‑foot separation — and councilors sharply divided over which should be the city’s floor.
Councilmember Jen Duff said she would vote against a 1,000‑foot requirement, calling it excessive and out of step with peer cities. “I have no idea how it got there,” Duff said of the 1,000‑foot figure and cited a survey of other cities that showed typical separation distances in the 100–500‑foot range. Duff warned that imposing a 1,000‑foot rule could make Mesa an outlier,…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
