Council narrows siting rules for battery storage, removes 1‑mile substation requirement
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Anne Arundel County amended its proposed Battery Energy Storage Systems ordinance on March 2, removing a 1‑mile proximity requirement to substations and clarifying systems do not include public utilities; sponsors said changes reflect stakeholder input and safety advances.
On March 2 the Anne Arundel County Council advanced changes to Bill 9‑26, which creates conditional‑use rules for battery energy storage systems (BESS).
After a brief public hearing, where Adam Dobitsky of the Land of Liberty Coalition supported the bill but recommended revisiting some siting restrictions, council members adopted Amendment 2 to remove a proposed requirement that BESS facilities be located within one mile of an existing substation. Administration and planning staff supported the revision after stakeholder feedback. The council also adopted an amendment clarifying that a battery energy storage system does not include public utilities. A broader amendment expanding permitted districts was withdrawn to allow more work on use definitions.
Supporters argued modern BESS technology and improved firefighting training reduce the safety risks that have driven restrictive siting. Critics had urged careful safeguards and setbacks near critical areas. The council left additional use‑zone questions for further meetings; the bill as amended will be considered again on March 16.