SOUTHWICK — While there was an expectation that the Select Board would recommend to the Planning Board a moratorium on the installation of battery energy storage systems and solar array fields at its meeting Monday, two members believed the process should start with the Planning Board.
“That’s backwards,” said board member Douglas Moglin to board member Diane Gale after she proposed the Select Board support a moratorium on those renewable energy systems.
“They should vote … it’s the Planning Board that should make a motion for a zoning change bylaw,” Moglin said.
Gale’s proposal was prompted by a discussion held by members of the Planning Board during its last meeting.
“The Planning Board had some discussion on potentially [establishing a] moratorium for battery energy storage system [and solar arrays], and our bylaws are not current as related to the advancement of solar technology like this,” she said.
She said the Planning Board is requesting the Select Board support a moratorium so it can start the process of amending the town’s bylaws, which are being updated, by holding the required public hearings before the amendment appears as an article on a Town Meeting warrant.
“They’ll be addressing this tomorrow [Tuesday, Dec. 2] and are hoping we are going to refer it to them today,” Gale said.
That prompted Moglin’s “backward” remark, and he explained why.
“They need to vote as a board to request the bylaw change, which comes to us, which we then send right back to them,” Moglin said.
He and board member Russ Anderson had other questions that needed answers.
“I know there’s been a lot of discussion about this in other towns, both south, east, with different companies making proposals for larger battery storage facilities, and I think one that’s been approved in the town of Southwick, albeit on a much smaller scale. But the planning board needs to just draft that request to us,” Moglin said.
Anderson asked how the BESS and solar arrays could not now be considered regulated because of all “the hoops” they have to go through, or, is it more of “I don’t want it.”
Gale jumped in and said there are three bills under consideration now in the Statehouse that “would significantly control development of these new battery storage systems.”
One would establish a temporary 18-month moratorium, setbacks from populated and ecologically sensitive areas, and give more local governments control over construction, she said, which Anderson spoke to.
“Don’t we already have those guidelines…either through local emergency [management], through fire permits or whatever … we have many of those things today,” he said.
Gale said all of the safety issues have yet to be examined and incorporated into zoning bylaws.
“That’s the kind of thing they want to review…with fire safety, conservation,” she said, referring to the Conservation Commission.
Anderson said there are plenty of those systems throughout the state.
Gale thought he was referring to solar array systems.
“It’s not a solar field,” she said.
“I’m not saying solar. I’m talking battery storage, and the thing I hear from a lot of other chiefs is it’s not as big a deal as [originally thought],” Anderson said, referring to how it is nearly impossible to put out fires when a BESS fails.
Gale then responded to Anderson and Moglin’s assertion that having the board vote on it was backwards.
“I don’t believe it’s backwards. I believe we need to be in front of it, not behind it, and reacting,” she said.
Moglin addressed the pending legislation in the Statehouse.
“It may or may not pass. There are interests at play at the state level. We’ve seen common sense legislation at the state level having died every year for many years because there’s other interests at play that override common sense,” he said.
Chief Administrative Officer Nicole Parker explained that one of the reasons for the urgency was to get the amended bylaw ready for the Special Town Meeting scheduled for Jan. 13.
That prompted Moglin to give another reason why he wants the Planning Board to start the process.
“We haven’t even had one minute of discussion on this board about this topic until tonight. I don’t feel comfortable making that recommendation to the Planning Board. If they feel that strongly about it, that’s fine if they do. If we had a discussion about it with a little bit more facts behind it, I would be amenable to it, but I’m not comfortable with doing that now,” he said.
Gale asked him what facts he’d need.
He suggested hearing from someone who opposed the installation of the BESS in Westfield, while acknowledging there are some “very real concerns” about BESS and how they are handled when something goes wrong.
The company that proposed the BESS installation in Westfield withdrew its application.
Gale gave a list of towns and cities that have already endorsed a moratorium on renewable energy systems.
Moglin also believed there was still time to have Special Town Meeting in January to decide if it wants a moratorium, adding that he believes bylaw amendments should be taken up at the Annual Town Meeting.
“I am but one member on this board, but I would not be in favor of being the sponsor of a moratorium at this time,” Moglin said
It was decided to have the Planning Board endorse the moratorium and send it back to the Select Board for it to vote up or down.
