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Residents urge moratorium on battery storage projects; commissioners say no formal application yet
Summary
Multiple Reno County residents told the commission April 8 they fear safety, water and property‑value risks from proposed battery energy storage systems and urged an immediate moratorium. Commissioners said they are reviewing the issue and that no formal CUP application has been filed.
At the April 8 Reno County Commission meeting, several residents pressed commissioners to block large battery energy storage systems (BESS) until safety, water‑use and land‑use questions are resolved.
Randy Penner, a retired firefighter from County Fire District 2, told the board the systems carry “thermal runaway” fire risks that are difficult to extinguish and can emit hazardous gases. “These fires are hard to control and emit hazardous gases such as hydrogen…hydrogen fluoride, which is extremely toxic and corrosive,” Penner said, adding that nearby schools, retirement centers and rural residents could be affected and that a major incident could contaminate aquifers relied on by hundreds of thousands of people.
The urgency grew as Aaron Baker, a resident near Buer/Beller, urged the commission to enact “an immediate moratorium on battery energy storage systems and large‑scale data center developments in our county.” Baker said moratoria in nearby counties show a precedent for caution and warned that evolving safety standards — including work on NFPA 800 — leave local first responders exposed if facilities are built before protocols are finalized.
Deborah Murray, who said she lives just north of a proposed battery site, told commissioners at least “63 homes within a mile of the proposed battery site” would be affected and said neighbors oppose siting that close. Alan Macintosh, a local farmer, raised concerns about long‑term effects on nearby property values.
Commissioners responded that county staff, city partners and first‑responder agencies are discussing the technology and that the commission wants to protect local resources while remaining open to beneficial projects. Commissioners also said there is currently no formal conditional use permit application for a BESS or a data center in the county. A commissioner noted that any CUP application would come first to planning and zoning for public review and hearing before the commission would take final action.
County staff asked residents to submit questions or comments by email so staff can aggregate concerns and said joint meetings with cities and emergency officials are planned to review safety, water and response issues.
Next steps: commissioners directed staff to continue intergovernmental and emergency‑services review; no formal land‑use decision or moratorium was adopted at the meeting.
