Macomb committee to review ordinance for battery energy storage systems after retrofit of solar project

The Macomb City Council committee of the whole discussed a proposed ordinance to regulate battery energy storage systems (BESS) offered as part of solar developments and scheduled the draft for first reading at next week’s council meeting.

City Attorney Scalf, who summarized the draft, said the ordinance largely mirrors state statute and county code setbacks and requirements. Scalf told the committee the proposed rules are intended to govern new installations and noted that one developer added BESS to an existing solar project without city approval. "This was something that they constructed without our knowledge or consent," Scalf said.

Alderman Dorset raised fire-safety concerns and asked whether the fire chief had reviewed the plans; Fire Chief Dan Meyer said the new plans had been in his office about a week and he had not yet had a chance to complete a technical review. "I haven't had a chance to really dive into them," Meyer said, and he said he will examine fire-suppression integration and other safety measures and report back to council.

Scalf emphasized that the ordinance is not intended to retroactively legalize installations that predate the special-use requirement; instead, she said, the draft codifies standards the city intends to apply going forward. Councilors and staff also noted the city’s code is being updated to keep pace with rapidly evolving energy-storage technology.

The mayor said the committee would put the ordinance on the city council agenda for first reading at next week’s meeting, allowing time for technical review by the fire department and any further edits.

What happens next: Staff and the fire department will continue technical review of the proposed standards; the ordinance is scheduled for first reading at next week's Macomb City Council meeting.