Board raises safety and siting concerns for large battery storage as town rewrites solar law

Members of the Grand Island Conservation Advisory Board on March 26 discussed growing local concern about large battery energy storage systems and the town’s plan to treat battery rules separately from the solar law.

Committee member (S3) described the units as "large scale battery storage units that are the size of, like, a mobile home," and said the board cannot simply declare such facilities off‑limits because the project is under municipal jurisdiction and state/utility planning constraints. “We have to find a way to ensure the law that's written around these things on our island are going to be responsible with setbacks,” she said.

Several members urged the town to include strict setbacks and operational safeguards. Committee member (S1) warned that developers pursue such projects for profit, not environmental benefit: "These people are not hooking up to windmills or solar. They wanna just make money," S1 said, arguing that market incentives will drive more installations unless local rules set firm siting and safety standards.

Staff member (S6) said the town is drafting a standalone battery energy storage law and had submitted detailed committee comments on an earlier draft. Members raised emergency‑response concerns and noted the local fire company has said it could not handle a major battery incident without outside support, arguing the local plan should address evacuation routes and equipment needs.

The board asked staff to follow up with town attorneys and emergency services to ensure the forthcoming law and related guidance include setbacks, fire‑safety standards and evacuation considerations specific to Grand Island’s bridges, flood risk and unique infrastructure.

Next step: staff to monitor the draft battery energy storage law, share committee comments with the town, and seek confirmation from fire and emergency services about preparedness and site‑specific mitigation.