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Westfield extends moratorium on commercial battery energy storage systems through March 1, 2027
Summary
The Town Board adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026 on March 4, extending the moratorium on new commercial battery energy storage system applications for one year to allow for state fire‑safety guidance, environmental review and local zoning work, with a unanimous vote.
The Town of Westfield Town Board on March 4 adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026, extending a moratorium on the review and approval of new commercial battery energy storage system applications through March 1, 2027. The adoption was approved by roll call: Supervisor Martha R. Bills, aye; Councilmember David Brown, aye; Councilmember David Spann, aye; Councilmember James Herbert, aye.
Town Attorney Joel Seachrist told the board the extension would give the Town time to await the final report and recommendations of New York State’s Inter‑Agency Fire Safety Working Group and to complete necessary environmental and zoning reviews before processing applications. The text of the law notes the Board determined the extension is a Type II action under SEQRA (6 N.Y.C.R.R. 617.5(c)(30)).
Public comment during the hearing raised concerns about local fire departments’ capacity to extinguish lithium battery fires and environmental impacts from such facilities. Supervisor Bills closed the public hearing and the Board moved to adopt the local law; the Town Clerk was directed to file the adopted law with the Secretary of State.
The moratorium extends existing controls and hardship‑variance procedures already in Local Law No. 1 of 2024 for an additional year. The Board’s action temporarily suspends local provisions that conflict with the extension while the Town completes its review process.
