Council adopts amendment to allow front‑of‑meter battery storage; final vote set for April 20

The Anne Arundel County Council on April 6 adopted a substantial amendment to Bill 9‑26, the county zoning ordinance change to add battery energy storage systems as a conditional or special‑exception use.

Adam Dubitsky, state director of the Land and Liberty Coalition of Maryland and a county resident, urged the council to approve amendment six so the county could “avail itself of this important technology” to improve grid reliability and resilience. He warned that without a local zoning classification for battery storage the county risks falling out of compliance with the state Renewable Energy Certainty Act and missing a narrow deadline. Dubitsky noted critical local infrastructure shares the grid and described storage’s role in smoothing demand and supporting reliability.

Representatives of industry (Cara Wheatley for CME Mar LLC and Emily Stroback of Granite Source Power) highlighted grid benefits and said the amendment includes safety and oversight provisions — including site development review, emergency‑response plans and alignment with National Fire Protection Association standards. They said storage can provide local tax revenues while producing minimal noise or traffic.

Sponsor and council discussion focused on state preemption and fire safety. Ms. Fiedler said earlier safety concerns from stakeholders and the fire department had been reduced after technical discussions; Office of Law and administration staff worked on language to address preemption concerns. The council adopted amendment six by roll call (six in the affirmative, one absent) and set the bill for final consideration on April 20. The amendment adds front‑of‑meter systems, creates a special‑exception path in some residential districts, refines safety and site‑review requirements, and flags a planned expiration (the bill will be taken up again on April 20).

What it means: The amendment intends to allow the county to accept utility‑scale storage projects in appropriate zones while preserving local review authority and complying with state law. Supporters emphasized local grid resilience and faster project timelines for private developers; at least one councilmember said she still expects follow‑up on distance rules and whether special exceptions in residential districts should later be revisited.

Next steps: Bill 9‑26 as amended will be scheduled for final passage on April 20, 2026.