Amsterdam council extends moratorium on industrial solar and battery storage

The Common Council on May 19 extended a temporary moratorium on submission and processing of building permits, certificates of occupancy and land-use approvals for industrial solar and battery energy storage systems in the City of Amsterdam, continuing the pause first enacted in December 2025.

During a public hearing, John Hern, representing developer Amresco, asked the council to remove solar from the moratorium and noted he did not think the council had expressed concern about solar projects. "In my interpretation of the law, solar should not be considered part of this moratorium because the council does not have a concern with solar," Hern said. Arlene Brodsky, a local resident, similarly asked the council to "separate solar from battery storage" and said a proposed Queen Anne Road solar array should be permitted because "solar is clean energy." Joe Steven Graves, representing Carson Power, urged continued community education on battery safety and described a proposed 12.5-megawatt battery project, noting recent updates to the 2025 fire code and industry training requirements.

Council members said the extension is intended to allow time for a stakeholder group to convene, gather information and draft regulatory changes. One council member said they had been promised work would be completed within three months and urged formation of a core working group including engineering, codes and local stakeholders. The local law was moved and called for roll-call; the council discussed forming a working group during the moratorium period. The moratorium extension remains in effect while the council and staff continue outreach and technical review.