Planning commission denies rezoning for Panola Grove battery storage after fire-safety and community concerns

The Rockdale County Planning Commission on March 12 recommended denial of REZ2025‑13 and its companion future‑land‑use amendment after hours of testimony on a proposed 48.48‑acre battery energy storage system (BESS) at 2002 Northwest Rockbridge Road.

The commission’s decision came after a technical briefing from the Rockdale County Fire Marshal and extended public comment from neighbors who said the project and nearby industrial development have harmed quality of life. Nick Lynn of Rockdale County Fire Rescue, who briefed the commission on BESS risks, warned about the hazards of large battery systems and the limits of code compliance. Lynn described thermal runaway in lithium systems and the potential for toxic gases and extended suppression efforts, saying in part, "Thermal runaway is a dangerous self sustaining chain reaction where battery still overheats, rapidly releasing energy, causing it to ignite, spread fire, heat to adjacent cells, and a cascading domino like effect." He told the commission that separation distances, testing (UL 9540A) and NFPA standards are part of mitigation but that code compliance does not eliminate all risk and that site‑specific emergency planning with local responders is essential.

Residents who live near the site pressed for stronger protections and questioned cumulative impacts from data centers already under construction nearby. Amanda Kirkland, who identified herself as a Rockdale County resident, urged a pause on approvals and asked for zoning updates to account for land, energy and water impacts: "Tonight, I am formally requesting that this council place a moratorium on rezoning approvals for any data center project to allow time to study and update zoning codes to address the specific realities of the data center industry and its impact on our community." Multiple speakers raised concerns about water use, noise, blasting and property values.

The applicant’s representative, Patrick Duffy of Treaty Oak Clean Energy, said the proposed Panola Grove facility is a standalone battery system designed to support grid reliability, that the units use lithium iron phosphate chemistry and that modern safety systems and remote monitoring reduce risk. "We are not a data center," Duffy said. "We're not associated with the data center. We're a standalone battery energy storage facility." Developers and technical experts also told the commission that hazard‑mitigation analyses and emergency response plans (ERPs) will specify battery counts and trainings to be coordinated with the fire department.

After public comment and discussion, a motion to deny REZ2025‑13 and its related FLUM amendment carried on a voice vote. The Planning Commission’s recommendation is advisory; the Board of Commissioners will receive the recommendation and has authority over final approval. Staff had declined to make a recommendation for the rezoning and FLUM amendment until questions from Rockdale County Fire Rescue were addressed.

The Planning Commission’s action leaves in place the county’s existing land‑use designation for the parcel; developers may return with revised applications or responses to the fire department’s concerns. The board of commissioners previously adopted a moratorium on certain data‑center permits on Jan. 24, 2026; staff explained that applications filed before that moratorium can continue through the rezoning process but cannot advance to building permits while the moratorium stands.