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Residents urge caution as committee advances 12‑month moratorium on battery storage siting
Summary
After public comment from Wheatland residents opposing a proposed Robin Energy battery storage project, the committee advanced an ordinance to temporarily bar new standalone battery‑energy storage approvals countywide for 12 months while zoning changes are drafted; the ordinance will go to the county board for final action.
Kenosha County supervisors on Wednesday advanced an ordinance that would impose a temporary, 12‑month moratorium on consideration or issuance of building permits, conditional‑use permits and zoning approvals for standalone battery energy storage systems while staff and the committee work on zoning updates.
The measure was introduced by county planning staff, who said the moratorium would allow time to review and amend the zoning code to address public‑health, safety and welfare concerns tied to battery storage siting. The committee voted to advance the ordinance to the county board; staff said the ordinance becomes effective if and when the county board approves it and that the temporary ban would last 12 months.
During the citizens’ comment period, multiple Wheatland residents urged supervisors to support the moratorium and criticized a proposed project and the developer’s outreach. Jenny Morehouse, who identified herself as a Wheatland resident, said the town remains opposed and asked supervisors to "learn as much as you can about the risks associated with thermal runaway fires." Kathy Denko, who described long experience with local reclamation issues, said the developer’s presentation was inadequate and raised concerns about emergency‑response capacity and potential impacts to wetlands, drainage and nearby schools.
Denko told the committee the developer had expanded the project footprint in publicly available materials, and said local volunteers and officials would need to prepare for possible legal and regulatory escalation to the state Public Service Commission. "Their presentation was pathetic," she said. "They wouldn't even present their names and their position with the company at the beginning."
County staff acknowledged the public concerns and told the committee the moratorium and subsequent zoning review would require detailed research and outreach. The committee’s vote advances the ordinance to the full county board for consideration next week.
What’s next: the ordinance now goes to the Kenosha County Board for review; if approved there it would take effect and pause new local approvals for 12 months while staff and the committee prepare zoning changes.
