Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Energy Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clean-energy groups urge Babylon board not to extend battery storage moratorium
Summary
Representatives from the New York League of Conservation Voters and ACE New York urged the Town of Babylon board to allow the current moratorium on battery energy storage systems to expire, citing July 2025 state safety guidance, grid resilience and local jobs.
At the July 8 Town of Babylon board meeting, Julia Damiano of the New York League of Conservation Voters and Lauren Corcoran Doolin of Alliance for Clean Energy (ACE New York) urged the board not to extend its moratorium on battery energy storage systems (BESS).
"Battery storage is essential for...providing reliable power during extreme weather or periods of peak demand," Damiano said, arguing BESS can reduce reliance on fossil-fuel plants, support state clean-energy goals and create local construction jobs. She noted updated safety guidelines issued by the New York State Fire Prevention and Building Codes Council in July 2025 and pointed to endorsements from former FDNY leaders supporting safe integration of the technology.
Doolin said ACE New York and a retired FDNY team are available to meet with the town and local fire leaders to discuss safety and siting, and she delivered letters of support on behalf of stakeholders seeking resilient and affordable energy solutions.
Both speakers acknowledged local safety concerns raised by residents and town officials. The board has convened a working group over the previous six months to study BESS deployment; the speakers urged the town to update local codes to reflect best practices rather than broadly rejecting the technology.
No board vote on the moratorium was recorded at the July 8 meeting; advocates and town staff signaled an ongoing dialogue as the working group completes its review.
