Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission asks staff to research battery‑storage rules after safety and emergency‑response concerns
Summary
Southampton County planning commissioners asked staff to gather draft ordinances and technical guidance on utility‑scale battery storage, noting thermal‑runaway fire risks and the need for fire and emergency‑services input before considering local code language.
The Southampton County Planning Commission asked county planning staff to research existing ordinances and technical guidance for utility‑scale battery storage after a discussion of safety and emergency‑response issues at its November meeting.
Chair opened the battery‑storage agenda item and asked staff to expand research beyond the packet already provided. Planning staff member Jay Randolph said the topic is "becoming much more widespread" among neighboring counties and that staff would look for draft ordinances in North Carolina and other East Coast localities and consult with emergency management and fire/rescue. "This topic is becoming much more widespread with our adjoining counties," Randolph said.
Mr. Olson (a meeting speaker who identified himself in the exchange) described currently operating projects that partner with Dominion Energy and Department of Energy grant programs, and highlighted recent advances in packaged battery modules with onboard fire‑suppression systems. "There are several projects currently operating in the state with these batteries," Olson said, noting new module designs that include contained suppression and monitoring technology.
Commissioners flagged two priorities: (1) fire and rescue review of thermal‑runaway and suppression needs for utility‑scale facilities and (2) clear ordinance language that distinguishes industrial utility‑scale systems from residential rooftop storage. Commissioners also asked that staff avoid conflating battery storage with general "clean energy land use" language and instead craft definitions and standards tailored to storage systems.
Staff committed to continue researching model ordinances, solicit input from emergency services and provide an update to the commission when sufficient technical and ordinance language examples have been assembled. No local ordinance was adopted at the meeting and commissioners signaled the item will remain on future agendas as staff compiles findings.
