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Westford health officials press planning board to include health safeguards in battery-storage zoning
Summary
The Board of Health urged tight coordination with planning and fire officials as the town prepares zoning changes to permit battery energy storage systems, citing noise, toxic fire emissions and groundwater risks. The board asked to submit comments to the planning board before its May 18 meeting.
The Westford Board of Health said on May 11 it wants early input into draft zoning and bylaw amendments for battery energy storage systems and small-scale solar, citing potential public-health and environmental risks.
Ray, the town health director, described the department’s concerns: noise from cooling fans and inverters, toxic gases released during battery fires (he singled out hydrogen fluoride), large water needs for firefighting, and possible contamination risks for groundwater in areas already affected by PFAS cleanup. “For us, from a public-health perspective, it’s…
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