Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Battery Storage Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Southborough Board of Health to send memo on battery energy storage language in industrial‑park warrant article
Summary
The Board reviewed proposed industrial‑park zoning language for battery energy storage systems and voted to authorize a memo urging alignment with state energy‑capacity tiers, referencing fire/life‑safety codes and stronger decommissioning and financial‑assurance language.
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Southborough Board of Health reviewed proposed warrant‑article language that would add rules for battery energy storage systems in the town's industrial zone and authorized a board member to submit formal comments to the Planning Board.
Board member Taylor reviewed the draft language and told the Board she recommended the town align local language with the state’s model approach based on aggregate energy capacity (megawatt‑hours/kilowatt‑hours) and tiered review levels rather than relying solely on a building‑footprint square‑footage metric. Taylor explained the state approach separates projects into tiers (lower‑capacity projects by right; higher tiers subject to site‑plan review or special permits) and said the town’s draft currently uses square footage as the main threshold.
Taylor said the Board’s suggested edits included: adding aggregate energy‑capacity tiers to match the state framework; referencing the state electrical code for fire and life‑safety alignment; clarifying what constitutes non‑industrial uses and site‑security requirements; and expanding the decommissioning plan language to specify which town departments would review decommissioning plans and what "financial assurance" must cover.
Board members discussed whether keeping a square‑footage cap (up to 75,000 square feet is in the draft) in addition to energy‑capacity tiers would be appropriate. Taylor said the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) regulations and additional state guidance are expected in March and recommended the Board note that timing in any comment memo.
The Board moved that Taylor prepare a memo outlining these suggestions and the board’s willingness to collaborate with the Planning Board; the motion was seconded and approved.
Next steps: Taylor will draft and submit the memo to the Planning Board on behalf of the Board of Health.
