Council approves option agreement to advance battery storage with Thales Energy

The council approved an option agreement that will allow a developer to pursue National Grid capacity determinations and move more quickly toward revenue-generating battery storage projects. A council member described the agreement as a way "to go from conception to revenue faster" by letting the developer seek headroom directly from National Grid; the council approved the measure unanimously.

The agreement does not remove land-use review: each battery storage facility still must return to the planning board for subdivision review, and leases will need upgraded insurance because the option agreement does not provide that coverage. The council discussed prior steps, including a letter sent to National Grid to identify headroom and capacity, and referenced Thales Energy in the motion as the partner in the option agreement.

Council members described the step as procedural and intended to accelerate the developer's process; no immediate construction or lease was approved by the council at the meeting.