New Milford council approves temporary moratorium as residents press safety, water and noise concerns over Flat Iron battery proposal

At a town council meeting, residents raised a string of safety and environmental concerns about a proposed Flat Iron Energy battery storage facility sited on property owned by Aspatuck Farms LLC, and the council voted to impose a temporary construction moratorium on battery energy storage projects.

Lynn Webster, chair of the New Milford Conservation Commission, read the commission's mission and told the council the proposed site touches FEMA 100- and 500-year flood zones and lies along the West Aspatuck River, which provides water and habitat for the area. "These batteries present a whole new level of toxic air event that could spread downwind to homes along Wellsville Avenue and the very center of New Milford," Webster said, adding the town green is roughly 1.31 miles from the site by her estimate.

Mike Bird, vice chairman of the Conservation Commission, highlighted local impacts on farmland soils and nighttime noise, saying the facility's charging and discharging cycle could create "a constant noise between of 70 dB" that would carry up from the valley to nearby homes. Michael Kaufman, president of the Northville Resident Association, and other residents listed similar worries: fire suppression capabilities, wetland and aquifer contamination risk, property-value effects and uncertainty about Flat Iron's operational track record.

Joe Baker, speaking for the New Milford Democratic Town Committee, and several civic groups said the company had canceled public meetings and, while Flat Iron told the mayor it would "pause" its application, the company would not release its purchase option on the Aspatuck Ridge property. "Not showing up is the opposite of engaging," Baker said.

State legislators who attended the meeting urged a parallel legislative approach. Senator Harding said she and Representative Buckby will introduce bills this session, including a statewide moratorium on battery storage facilities and renewed efforts to give local representation to communities before the state siting council. "We'd love to have the town council support and advocate for the governor to sign it into law," Harding said.

Mayor remarks earlier in the meeting said Flat Iron told him it was placing a pause on its application but had not released the option on the Aspatuck Ridge parcel; the mayor said he had asked legal counsel and staff to prepare a roster of consultants and experts the town could use to review any future application.

Following those comments, the council voted to suspend the rules and add a moratorium item to the agenda. The motion to impose a construction moratorium on battery development was moved by the mayor and seconded by Council member Rolando; the motion passed after recorded objections and abstentions were registered but no full roll-call tally was read into the minutes. The mayor said the town attorney would draft the moratorium memorandum and a nonbinding townwide referendum question for consideration at the Feb. 9 council meeting.

What it means next: the moratorium is a pause-in-place that gives the town time to assemble legal and technical experts and to coordinate with state legislators pursuing a broader moratorium. Flat Iron has said it will engage with the community but also has retained property options, according to the mayor. Any formal application that reaches town land-use boards or the state siting council would be subject to regulatory review and the comments the town submits based on technical assessments.

Quotes in brief: "These batteries present a whole new level of toxic air event," Lynn Webster said. "We intend to pause our permitting application while we better engage with the community," Flat Iron was reported to have told town officials, according to participants.

The council scheduled follow-up work and public outreach; the moratorium language and the town's next steps will appear on the Feb. 9 agenda.