Notice of Public Hearing-Battery Energy Storage Systems
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to the direction of the East Greenbush Town Board, the Town Board shall hold a public hearing on June 8, 2022, at 6:00 P.M., at the East Greenbush Town Hall located at 225 Columbia Turnpike in the Town of East Greenbush, to receive comments from the public about a proposed local law as follows:
A local law enacting provisions relating to Battery Energy Storage Systems.
With the advent of intermittent renewable power sources, such as wind and solar, and their increasing role in providing energy in the Town and in New York state, energy storage systems are becoming more common as a means to smooth and time-shift renewable generation. As the power grid becomes more decentralized, these systems will store energy and allow it to be provided when and where demand is greatest. Battery energy storage systems should also help meet peak power needs using renewable sources and allow a shift away from other types of peak generating sources, including those using fossil fuels. In this context, the Town desires to responsibly accommodate battery energy storage systems by establishing procedural frameworks and substantive requirements for residential, commercial, and utility-scale battery energy storage systems.
The Battery Energy Storage Systems local law would provide the following: 1) Establish definitions relating to Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including creating two permitting frameworks (i.e., Tier 1 and Tier 2) for different size BESS systems; 2) Address safety in system design, first responder training and response, system and property ownership changes, and BESS decommissioning; 3) specify the zoning districts in which BESS are permitted in Town and the general requirements for permit applications; and 4) Set forth site plan and special use permit review standards relating to, e.g., screening/buffering, vegetation and tree cutting, noise, and lighting, as well as establish specific site plan and special use permit approval conditions for BESS.
A copy of the local law may be inspected at the Office of the Town Clerk during regular business hours. A copy of the proposed local law is also available on the Town’s website at:
https://www.eastgreenbush.org/
Proposed Local Law-Battery Energy Storage Systems
Written comments may be submitted to the Town Board by email to epangburn@eastgreenbush.org or by mail to the Town Board, Town of East Greenbush, 225 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, New York 12144 at any time prior to the hearing.
By order of the East Greenbush Town Board
Dated: May 25, 2022 ______________________________
Ellen Pangburn, Town Clerk