Johnstown adopts one-year moratorium on battery storage after Nexamp presentation

Mayor Amy Praught presided over the City of Johnstown Common Council meeting on April 20, 2026, where the Council voted to adopt a one-year temporary moratorium on battery energy storage systems to allow the city time to study the technology, safety risks and appropriate local regulations.

The moratorium followed a presentation by a representative from Colliers Engineering & Design on behalf of developer Nexamp, who provided an overview of battery energy storage systems (BESS), company experience and preliminary information about a proposed site at the end of Grove Street adjacent to an electrical substation. The presenter described BESS as containerized, modular battery units that store electricity during low-demand hours and discharge during peak periods to reduce peak demand, improve grid resiliency and stabilize supply. The presenter said commonly used systems meet national safety standards such as UL 9540/9540A and NFPA 855 and described integrated safety features including thermal management, fire detection, emergency stop controls and continuous remote monitoring. The company representative also offered no-cost emergency-response training for local fire departments and recommended the NYSERDA Battery Energy Storage System Guidebook for model local laws.

Council members asked questions about public safety and siting. The presenter said the preliminary Grove Street site is in a Public Use zoning district, is adjacent to a substation, has no identified wetlands or endangered-species habitat, and that the nearest residence is approximately 200 feet from the proposed system (greater than a commonly referenced 100-foot buffer). The estimated project disturbance area was given as about 6,200 square feet and the total site size as roughly one to one-and-a-half acres; the presenter said a negative jurisdictional determination had been received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The presenter described an anticipated operational life of about 25 years and said equipment would be removed and batteries recycled at decommissioning, noting municipalities often require escrow or bonding to guarantee decommissioning.

Christopher (Chris) Brozek asked whether the moratorium would allow time for a full investigation of risks; Mayor Amy Praught replied the one-year pause is intended to let the City research battery storage technology and safety mitigation before permitting such facilities. With no formal applications yet submitted, Council members emphasized public safety as the primary motivation for the pause. The Council adopted Local Law #2 (Temporary Moratorium; Battery Storage) on a motion by Council Member Vincent McCallum, seconded by Council Member Bradley Hayner; the record shows four ayes, zero noes and one member absent (Scott Jeffers).

What happens next: City staff are expected to review technical guidance (the NYSERDA guidebook was specifically recommended) and work with public safety officials to identify gaps in local permitting, emergency response procedures and siting standards. The moratorium will remain in effect for one year unless the Council amends or lifts it earlier.