Kenosha County board approves 12‑month moratorium on new battery storage permits after residents raise safety and liability concerns

Kenosha County supervisors voted unanimously Monday to impose a one‑year temporary moratorium on the consideration and issuance of building permits, conditional use permits and zoning approvals for battery energy storage systems.

The roll‑call vote was 22‑0 after residents from Wheatland Township and surrounding areas urged the board to halt approvals while county staff and elected officials refine zoning rules. Nora Boss read a letter on behalf of Wheatland residents saying the January proposal by Robin Energy would site 192 lithium batteries on roughly 20 acres with plans to lease a further 52 acres for expansion and urging supervisors to “please say no to battery storage in Wheatland.”

Other speakers at the citizens comment period echoed safety concerns. Adam, a Wheatland resident and combat veteran, told supervisors the community had been given misleading information about fire risks and asked why foreign investment was being considered for critical local infrastructure. “If you can smell something, you've been contaminated,” he said, describing public outreach at a concurrent Robin Energy forum as “a mess.”

Mike Windler, an electrical engineer who said he has worked 42 years in U.S. safety systems, warned supervisors about corporate structure and liability, saying some projects are tied to special‑purpose companies that may disappear after construction and leave residents with little local recourse if problems arise.

During board discussion, Supervisor Bowski said she supported the staff review and that Planning and Development would undertake a red‑line review of the 2024 ordinance to identify specific changes rather than rely on general concerns. “We should make decisions based on specific information, evidence and identified needs rather than broad concerns alone,” she said.

Chair Nordigan and other supervisors invoked the timing urgency: a permit application could be filed before the next committee meeting, prompting the motion to suspend the rules and bring the proposed moratorium up for immediate consideration. The motion to suspend the rules passed by the two‑thirds voice threshold earlier in the meeting; the moratorium resolution then passed unanimously on a recorded roll call, 22‑0.

What happens next: planning staff will prepare proposed ordinance changes and a red‑line for supervisors to review. The moratorium is temporary and intended to allow the county to update its zoning framework and address fire response, water supply, emergency preparedness and liability considerations raised during public comment.

Votes and motions: the moratorium was moved by Supervisor Morsy and seconded by Supervisor Meadows; the resolution passed on roll call, recorded as 22 yes, 0 no.

Community context: opponents said their concerns include emergency‑response capacity for large‑scale fires or thermal runaway events, groundwater and air contamination risks, and the potential for distant corporate ownership to limit local accountability. Supporters of deliberate review urged balancing urgency with a transparent committee process that includes public input and technical expertise.