Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of Town residents, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and the Town Board approved a six-month moratorium on the establishment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in the town. The moratorium was approved on April 12.
“While these battery storage systems have been identified as playing a critical role in achieving climate goals by New York State, they are not without their potential safety risks as various concerns have been recently exposed,” Saladino said. “Four fires at BESS facilities in New York State have highlighted these dangers and have raised concerns over public safety and the safety of first responders.”
Battery Energy Storage Systems have been populating New York State in recent years. BESS facilities utilize rechargeable batteries that can store energy from different sources and discharge it when needed. They consist of one or more batteries that can be used to balance the entire grid, provide backup power, and/or improve grid stability.
The recent public concern regarding the volatile nature of lithium ion batteries and the potential threat to the health and safety of communities surrounding these facilities have led the Town Board to consider a pause on approving them. With reports of fires at BESS locations over the past two years, there are also concerns related to the impact to the environment, as well as the stress put on roadways and local infrastructure. Following the recent fires, New York State is also currently considering pending updates to New York State Fire Code following a preliminary investigation performed on BESS facilities. These concerns, coupled with the Town’s desire for additional information and assurance about the safety of these type of facilities, as well as allowed New York State time to finalize its report, have all led to the determination that a moratorium be put in place while these issues are further considered.
“While a recent report from New York State indicates initial findings that show BESS facilities have limited long-term impacts to health, safety and the environment, it’s prudent for additional investigations and reviews be conducted before considering any applications for such a facility in the Town of Oyster Bay,” Saladino said.