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Kenosha County committee adopts 12‑month moratorium on standalone battery storage permits after public concerns
Summary
The Planning & Development Committee voted to adopt a 12‑month moratorium ordinance on permits and zoning approvals for standalone battery energy storage systems, after withdrawing a preliminary resolution and hearing public comments from Wheatland residents who urged delay and expressed safety and land‑use concerns.
The Kenosha County Planning & Development Committee on June 12 approved a 12‑month moratorium ordinance that pauses consideration and issuance of building permits, conditional use permits and zoning approvals for standalone battery energy storage systems (BESS) while the county researches and develops zoning amendments addressing the installations.
Committee members first read and then withdrew a drafted resolution supporting a moratorium. Staff explained that an ordinance (alongside a resolution) is the typical procedural path for a county moratorium and that further research, ordinance drafting and interdepartmental analysis would be required during the moratorium period. The ordinance before the committee would be effective from the date the county board approves it and last for 12 months.
During public comment, local residents from the Town of Wheatland urged the county to keep a moratorium in place while permitting and safety standards are reviewed. Resident Jenny Mohouse told the committee she supports the moratorium and called on supervisors to "continue learning about standalone battery energy storage systems" and to consider risks such as thermal‑runaway fires and chemical releases. Mohouse said her town previously denied a rezoning and that residents remain concerned that a company (identified in testimony as Robin Energy) may continue pursuing the project even after a town denial.
Another Wheatland resident, Kathy Denko, urged the board to defend the township, described prior experience with out‑of‑town industrial operators and said the local volunteer fire department lacks capacity to handle a large BESS emergency. She criticized the company's presentation to the town, recounted concerns about drainage and nearby wells, and warned that a contested project could proceed to the Public Service Commission if the company pursues statutory jurisdiction.
Committee members acknowledged the volume of research and outreach ahead, and the committee passed the ordinance by voice vote. Staff and supervisors said they'll coordinate follow‑up research, seek input from fire, highways and planning staff, and return with proposed ordinance language and implementation steps during the moratorium period.
