Southold Supervisor Scott Russell is calling for a 12-month moratorium on the development of battery energy storage systems in Southold Town.
The Southold Town Board will discuss a planning process and consider the moratorium at its meeting Tuesday, Russell said in a press release yesterday afternoon.
“Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) facilities are a key component for the viability and promotion of renewable energy sources,” Russell said. “However, the technology of these systems is still in its infancy.”
The town must undertake a thorough review of the battery energy storage systems to identify any possible threats to public health, safety and welfare, as well as evaluate the systems’ potential harmful environmental impacts, Russell said.
The results of the town’s review will allow it to craft a code that will spell out the criteria for…