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Planning commission reviews draft battery energy storage ordinance, discusses tiers, decommissioning and financial assurance
Summary
Staff presented a draft ordinance covering battery energy storage systems that would allow smaller accessory systems broadly (tier 1 ≤600 kW) and require conditional-use review, decommissioning plans and financial assurances for larger systems; commissioners recommended clarifying conditional-use timing and adding corporate-guarantee language.
Fergus Falls City Planning Commission members reviewed a staff-drafted ordinance on battery energy storage systems (BESS) on Oct. 27 and discussed key thresholds, safety reviews and financial protections to cover decommissioning costs.
Clara Beck, planning staff, said the draft combines existing solar ordinance language with new provisions for battery systems and divides projects into two tiers. "The larger systems are going to require a decommissioning plan, which is very similar to our solar," Beck said, and added that building, electrical and fire officials would play a role in applications…
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