Experts urge caution on local battery‑storage law, highlight fire risks and code gaps

An industry presenter told the Grand Island Planning Board that battery electric energy storage systems (BESS) pose distinct safety and regulatory challenges and urged the town to refine any proposed local law before allowing stand‑alone storage installations.

The presenter said most large BESS use lithium‑ion technology and that battery fires are difficult to extinguish. "Lithium ion battery electric fires burn with temperatures of 800 to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, take up to 72 hours to extinguish," the presenter said, and recommended early thermal monitoring and robust fire‑department involvement. He suggested the town reference recent municipal guidance and the NFPA standards and cautioned that the board’s draft tier definitions and equipment‑approval references were inaccurate as written.

Members asked whether Grand Island’s fire department and water supply capacity are sufficient to respond to a BESS incident; the presenter recommended explicitly including the fire department in review and permitting and adding screening, separation distances from residences, hydrant access and monitoring requirements.

The board accepted the presenter’s materials for the record and asked staff to forward the comments and suggested references to the town board and fire department for further review.