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Proposal to site battery storage at Bisson Farm framed as farm-support and economic opportunity
Summary
Committee discussed a potential battery storage installation at the locally notable Bisson Farm; staff said the family is considering leasing a wooded parcel for a battery to stabilize energy costs and support farm viability, while members flagged neighborhood comfort and safety concerns.
Town staff described how the Bisson Farm—an established multi-generational beef operation with an on-site store—approached the committee about a possible battery storage installation on a wooded portion of their land. Mark said the family has explored options and views a battery site as a way to help stabilize electricity expenses.
"They came to us, and they said, it's getting more and more expensive to farm. It's harder and harder to pay for the seed. The electricity bills are skyrocketing," Mark said, explaining why the farm is considering a lease with a battery developer. He added that the family sees a small, wooded parcel as a way to keep most of the farm in agricultural use while granting a limited footprint for a storage facility.
Committee members welcomed the potential economic benefit but stressed they must make neighbors comfortable. Kurt and others discussed how the ordinance could include setbacks, visual screening and conditional-use factors to ensure safety and protect neighborhood character. The committee signaled it wants regulation robust enough to reassure nearby residents while allowing the town to evaluate host-community benefits.
Next steps: the clinic will factor this local proposal into its draft language so the ordinance can be applied to both the Bisson Farm case and other prospective sites.
