Millis planning board sends placeholder BESS and data‑center zoning language to select board for April public hearing

The planning board discussed proposed zoning language for battery energy storage systems (BESS) and data centers after the zoning bylaw review committee raised the topics. Staff explained the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has proposed draft model bylaws for municipalities and that the town may want tailored language rather than automatically adopting the state’s draft.

Board members and counsel recommended establishing definitions and limiting BESS and data centers to industrial (IP/IP‑2) districts by special permit so that large, windowless storage buildings do not appear in residential neighborhoods by right. Speakers debated whether the definition should restrict BESS to energy "derived from solar or other renewable energy sources" or be broadened to cover batteries that store energy from any source; staff said the phrase could be adjusted and reviewed by town counsel. Members also discussed tiering by kilowatt/kilowatt‑hour thresholds to separate household‑scale systems from utility‑scale facilities; one member noted a Tesla Powerwall is about 13.5 kWh, and multiple units together approach roughly 40–50 kWh.

Speakers flagged data centers’ potential water use and noise (fans and temporary generators) as topics the select board or subsequent bylaw stage should address. Given narrow timelines for referral, town counsel review and select‑board action, the planning board voted to send placeholder definitions and use‑table additions to the select board so the planning board can hold a public hearing in April. The motion passed by voice vote.