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Planning Commission backs county ordinance to regulate battery energy storage systems (BESS)
Summary
Halifax County’s Planning Commission recommended the Board adopt a new ordinance to permit utility‑scale battery energy storage systems by conditional‑use permit, allowing the county to enforce setbacks, buffering and fire‑safety measures before July 1, 2026.
The Planning Commission voted 6–0 on June 16 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would allow Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as an accessory or standalone use subject to a Conditional Use Permit.
Zoning Administrator Detrick Easley explained the amendment would apply the same site standards used for solar facilities — setbacks, vegetative buffering and fire protection — and stressed the county’s intent to adopt a local ordinance ahead of an upcoming state change. "If the Ordinance were in place before July 1, applicants would have to comply with the County’s ordinance," Easley said, noting the county’s goal to retain local control over siting and safety requirements.
Commissioners opened a public hearing on the ordinance; no members of the public spoke. The Commission’s unanimous recommendation forwards the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors for consideration and possible adoption at a future Board meeting.
What’s next: If the Board adopts the ordinance, developers seeking utility‑scale battery facilities would be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit and comply with Halifax County’s local standards.
