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Residents, board press for stronger noise and emergency standards for battery storage
Summary
Public commenters and board members urged the Planning Board to require noise studies (including low-frequency DBC measures), clear fire suppression protocols and emergency communication plans for battery energy storage systems as the board reviews the proposed Section 6.6.
At the Planning Board hearing on PB 2612, multiple speakers urged the board to add explicit noise and emergency-response requirements for battery energy storage systems. Paul Morris, a resident, highlighted capacity and neighborhood impacts, saying: "We're talking a 100 megawatt hours. It's a large facility." He told the board the town should set standards for battery scales, noise, visual screening and emergency response before applications arrive.
Board members agreed noise could include low-frequency vibration that residents might feel rather than hear and suggested peer review. One member recommended requiring a noise study for larger facilities, and the board discussed coordination with the fire chief and board of health to set suppression and toxic-fume response standards. Kelly Lynamo (MCOG) said suppression technologies and best practices are evolving and that the fire chief and board of health should review emergency measures as part of the consolidated permit review.
The board asked staff to explore peer review options for noise and to flag fire and health requirements in the updated draft to be considered when PB 2612 returns on August 17.
