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Resident urges short moratorium, task force as town weighs lithium-ion battery storage
Summary
A resident asked the Town of Tupper Lake to adopt a six- to nine-month moratorium on large lithium-ion battery projects and convene a community task force to study public-safety, zoning and regulatory concerns, while board members agreed to research the issue further.
Andy Foster, a Tupper Lake resident and volunteer in clean-energy work, urged the board during public comment to consider a short moratorium on Battery Energy Storage Systems and to establish a community task force to study the issue.
"If a moratorium is adopted, the board should also establish a community task force to study the issue, gather broad public input, review credible resources such as NYSERDA guidance," Foster said, arguing that an open forum would help the board “distinguish reliable information from misinformation” and allow timely public input. He recommended a six- to nine-month moratorium to ensure a prompt review.
Deputy Supervisor Tim Larkin and Councilman Adam Boudreau both said the town has not been approached by prospective developers and that local transmission limitations make siting less likely. Still, the board agreed it needs more information before acting and supported researching potential zoning and safety implications. Boudreau suggested the board consider forming a task force or a temporary moratorium to allow for an informed policy decision.
The discussion concluded with board members agreeing to gather more information and explore options, but no ordinance or moratorium was enacted at the meeting.
