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Mesa council adopts 1,000-foot battery storage setback after divided public comment
Summary
The Mesa City Council voted 6-1 to adopt an ordinance setting a 1,000-foot separation between certain battery energy storage systems and residences, amid competing testimony from safety experts and industry representatives who said the setback is either necessary or overly restrictive.
Mesa's City Council on Jan. 12 adopted an ordinance amending the Mesa City Code to set a 1,000-foot separation requirement between certain battery energy storage systems (BESS) and residences, passing the measure 6-1 after an extended public comment period.
The vote follows hours of testimony from engineers and fire-safety professionals who urged caution and from industry and technology groups who warned the setback was far outside national norms and could make projects economically infeasible. "Setbacks of this magnitude do not reflect the National Fire Protection Association standard," said Autumn Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Solar Energy…
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