Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Moratorium Bess topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westfield adopts one-year extension of moratorium on commercial battery storage
Summary
The Town Board unanimously adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2025 on March 5, extending a moratorium on new commercial battery energy storage system applications through March 1, 2026, and said it is awaiting a state fire-safety working group's report before completing zoning changes.
Supervisor Martha R. Bills opened a public hearing March 5 on a proposal to extend the town's moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems and asked Town Attorney Joel Seachrist to summarize the proposed Local Law. The measure would extend Local Law No. 1 of 2024 for one year, to March 1, 2026.
The board received no public applications or comments proposing a site in Westfield at the hearing. "Has anyone proposed a site in the Town of Westfield?" a board member asked; "No one has proposed a site in the Town of Westfield," Supervisor Martha R. Bills replied.
Councilmember David Spann introduced Resolution No. 22 of 2025 to adopt the local law. The Town Board unanimously adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2025 by roll call vote; the resolution records Supervisor Martha R. Bills, Councilmembers David Brown, David Spann, James Herbert and William Northrop voting "aye." The board determined the extension is a Type II action under SEQRA and therefore not subject to further environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act.
The resolution extends all provisions of the prior local law, including scope controls and hardship variance procedures, and states the town will await the final report and recommendations of New York State's Inter-Agency Fire Safety Working Group concerning battery energy storage facilities as it completes its zoning review.
Next steps: the local law takes effect upon filing with the New York Secretary of State, and the town will continue its zoning-law review and related procedures before considering new applications.
