By Bob Katzen
House 26-127, rejected an amendment that would prohibit the state from approving a battery storage facility in a municipality, unless the city or town governing body of the municipality in which the facility is proposed has voted to approve the project. The amendment also gives cities and towns the authority to establish additional siting, safety and environmental requirements for these storage facilities, as long as they don’t conflict with state law.
“The commonwealth is moving all approvals for new energy storage facilities to the state level,” said amendment sponsor Rep. Kelly Pease (R-Westfield). “This amendment would still allow cities and towns to have a say in where, when and how new battery storage facilities are implemented, or not implemented within their municipalities.”
Rep. Kushmerek said the House should wait until action is taken on a similar bill that is pending before the Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy. He noted that there are already current conversations underway between the committee, Department of Energy Resources and the Energy Facility Siting Board to establish parameters on setbacks in local communities for battery storage.
(A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.)
Rep. Christine Barber No Rep. Mike Connolly No Rep. Paul Donato No Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven No