Bonney Lake council weighs six-month moratorium on battery energy storage systems after safety concerns
Loading...
Summary
After receiving CDC recommendations, Bonney Lake councilors supported a six-month moratorium on new battery energy storage system (BESS) applications while staff studies siting, safety, and regulatory options; staff said a moratorium could be put into immediate effect with a public hearing within 60 days.
Bonney Lake councilors on April 7 moved to pause processing new battery energy storage system (BESS) applications for up to six months while staff and elected officials study siting standards, safety risks and possible regulations.
Council member Fullerton, reporting out of the Community Development Committee (CDC), said the committee reviewed three options — take no action, draft interim regulations, or place a temporary moratorium — and chose the moratorium so the city would have time to analyze hazards and policy choices. "We opted for number 3 so that we have time to look into the dangers and the pros and cons of these BESS systems," Fullerton said during her report.
Members cited national examples and local concerns about fire responses and hazardous emissions. Fullerton and others referenced recent incidents and the need to understand preemption or limitations from state or federal law before adopting siting restrictions.
Director Jason Sullivan told council the procedural path if council votes to impose a moratorium: the city may place a moratorium into effect immediately and must hold a public hearing within 60 days; staff and council would then have six months to prepare permanent regulations or consider prohibitions. Staff also said it will check for any state or federal preemption before recommending final ordinance language.
Why it matters: BESS facilities store large quantities of lithium-based energy storage, and council members expressed concern about the consequences of a catastrophic failure. The moratorium is intended to provide time for technical review, public safety input and legal vetting so the city can adopt appropriate standards or limits.
Next steps: Staff will research safety, siting and legal constraints and return proposed moratorium language and a work plan to council; the council may vote on moratorium language at its next meeting, and any moratorium adopted would be accompanied by a public hearing required within 60 days.