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Bonney Lake opens public hearing on six‑month moratorium for battery storage applications
Summary
Council opened a public hearing May 19 on AB 26‑33, a proposed six‑month moratorium on acceptance/processing of land‑use applications for battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities; developers and Puget Sound Energy sent input and staff said it will study zoning and regulatory options.
The Bonney Lake City Council opened a public hearing May 19 on AB 26‑33, an ordinance proposing a temporary six‑month moratorium on acceptance, processing or approval of applications for battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities in city zoning districts.
Clerk introduction explained the moratorium would pause city action while staff reviews findings of fact and proposes regulatory language. The moratorium, if adopted in ordinance form after the hearing process, would be immediate and temporary while staff develops recommended code language.
Ben Luxembourg, a cofounder of Mammoth Summit Power, spoke virtually and identified himself as a developer who had considered a project in Bonney Lake. He said he and colleagues were surprised by the moratorium but expressed interest in working with city staff and the utility to help meet identified grid needs. "We were surprised by the sudden moratorium," Luxembourg said, and noted that Puget Sound Energy had previously identified Bonney Lake as one of two areas in its territory needing storage.
Staff also reported a pre‑meeting email from Christine Hahn of Puget Sound Energy expressing support for battery energy storage systems and indicating PSE had been in discussions with council and staff.
Council and staff later discussed the technical and land‑use questions that motivated the pause: staff noted the city's land‑use matrix currently does not address battery energy systems and explained that regulation could range from prohibition to light oversight or heavy regulation, depending on identified impacts. Staff said the Community Development Committee (CDC) will review proposed regulatory options and then bring a package to the full council for deliberate review rather than placing it on the consent agenda.
No final decision on the moratorium ordinance was made during the May 19 meeting; the public hearing was opened, testimony taken, then closed. Staff said they will study regulatory options and return with proposals for CDC and council consideration.
