Plan commission initiates zoning review for battery energy storage systems

The Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission voted to initiate a zoning text amendment process aimed at establishing local requirements for battery energy storage systems.

Rob, a village staff member, told commissioners the village attorney recommended proactively developing an ordinance because of recent developments locally and nationally. "We don't have an application in currently for any system in the village here, but the village attorney was suggesting that we look at that," Rob said, adding that staff modeled the draft language closely on an ordinance adopted by Kenosha County.

Rob said it remains unclear what the state allows municipalities to regulate regarding these energy storage systems and that the initiative is intended to give the village a local regulatory framework to consider. "So we're looking to initiate that process here tonight and develop an ordinance that we'll bring back for approval," he said.

A commissioner said many storage facilities have proven safe when properly designed and supported taking steps to develop a safe ordinance. A motion to approve initiation of Plan Commission Resolution 26-05 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The vote starts a drafting process; staff will prepare ordinance language and return it to the commission for further review and possible adoption. The transcript records no pending applications and no technical code details were adopted at this meeting.