Residents urge caution on large-scale lithium battery storage projects at Skagit County public comment

Multiple speakers used the March 10 public-comment period to press the county for stronger scrutiny or a moratorium on utility-scale lithium battery energy storage (BES) proposals.

Elka McCartney of Anacortes opened the comments on the topic and described local concern and wider examples of community opposition to large-scale BES projects. "I've now spoken with hundreds of people. Nobody wants this," McCartney said, arguing that lithium battery fires can be long-lasting and pose evacuation and toxic-smoke concerns. Ingrid Hinton, reading excerpts of a letter from a regional fire chief, urged the board to require advanced fire-detection and suppression plans and additional infrastructure because "battery fires require specialized training and equipment and knowledge to safely respond." Laura Stansbury Weese and others described personal experiences and cautioned against prematurely adopting unfamiliar technologies without more independent safety review.

Speakers asked the county to ensure applicants show adequate emergency-response plans, provide additional safeguards, and coordinate with regional fire authorities before approving large BES facilities. Several speakers requested a local moratorium until codes and procedures are in place.

County staff did not announce immediate code changes at the meeting. The public-comment record will be available to commissioners ahead of future planning or permit discussions where BES proposals may appear; the planning docket public-comment window is open March 12 through April 16.

What happens next: Commissioners and planning staff will receive written comments submitted for the docket and for the upcoming public hearing; any land-use or permit applications for BES facilities will be subject to applicable local code, SEPA review and any new regulations the county adopts.