St. Armand introduces two new local laws regarding solar, BESS

BLOOMINGDALE | On May 19, the Town of St. Armand introduced two new local laws — one to ban Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and another to enact a moratorium on Community Solar. The town originally passed a resolution introducing a one-year moratorium on BESS in February after Carson Power, an energy infrastructure developer based in New York, N.Y., proposed a 20-megawatt facility on private property next to the National Grid substation near the Mount Pisgah Ski Area, near the Village of Saranac Lake and Town of Harrietstown property lines. The energy company chose the area due to its unique grid characteristics — from its long transmission lines and limited redundancy to higher winter reliability concerns and seasonal tourism load swings, according to the presentation that was given back in February. Also, the flat, open fields throughout upstate New York are considered ideal for companies seeking development sites. "Bottom line: localized energy storage improves resilience in rural communities where outages can have greater impacts." If installed, BESS would've charged during low-demand periods and discharged during peak-demand periods. The battery system would've operated automatically, but still be monitored 24/7. According to the presentation, it would not only support voltage stability but also reduce strain on transmission lines and prevent emergency peak events. "Energy storage is a smart and reliable technology that helps modernize New York's electric grid, helping to make the grid more flexible, efficient, and resilient," according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. "With thousands of energy storage sites already in place across the state, this exciting technology is playing an important role in making sure New York has affordable energy." The primary dangers of BESS stem from the risks of fire, explosion, and toxic gas associated with malfunctioning lithium-ion batteries, while concerns surrounding solar farm development primarily center on the loss of agricultural land, environmental disruptions to rural habitats, and local aesthetic changes. In the presentation, however, Carson Power listed several myths and facts about BESS. For instance, according to the energy company, these systems don't easily catch fire. In fact, fires are rare and declining due to improved design, testing, and modern safety standards. However, some members of the town board were still apprehensive about this new addition and potential future ones, both BESS and community solar. "We were recently approached by a company that wants to install a big commercial solar array in the town, but we don't have a building permit for that type of project, nor do we have a local law with any kind of regulation or decommissioning plan," Thurston explained. "So, we do need to take those steps before we have any big project like that take place." A public hearing regarding the BESS ban and Community Solar moratorium is scheduled for June 22 at 5:30 p.m. For more information or updates, visit townofstarmandny.gov.

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St. Armand introduces two new local laws regarding solar, BESS

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