Committee raises battery-storage fire and response concerns; staff to seek OES guidance

Committee members raised safety concerns about large-scale battery-storage arrays and discussed whether municipalities should consider moratoriums while model codes and emergency-response guidance are reviewed.

A committee member described firefighting challenges for lithium-ion battery fires and urged caution: "If you put water on it, it turns it into a crop field," the member said, noting that responders in one referenced incident were not trained to manage such fires. Members cited reports of other jurisdictions considering moratoriums on large battery arrays and that the primary fire risk is difficult-to-extinguish, rapidly spreading fires.

The chair asked staff to email Amarie in the county Office of Emergency Services (OES) for guidance and to distribute any relevant recommendations to committee members. Members also noted that some town boards have placed the subject on agendas and that the county’s position — including whether it inspects battery equipment at county facilities — requires clarification.

Next step: county staff will seek OES guidance and circulate findings to the committee and to town supervisors as requested.