Lordstown council adopts emergency moratoria on small mobile reactors and battery storage, approves sweeping zoning changes
July 10, 2026 | Lordstown, Trumbull County, Ohio
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The Village of Lordstown council voted unanimously to adopt a package of emergency ordinances on first consideration that includes temporary moratoria on permitting for small mobile reactors and battery energy storage systems.
The action came after council suspended the rules to allow immediate adoption. Council adopted Ordinance 37-2026 to place a temporary moratorium not to exceed 180 days on the granting of permits and the processing of applications for business entities proposing to use small mobile reactors within village limits. The council then adopted Ordinance 38-2026, imposing a similar 180-day moratorium on permitting and application processing for battery energy storage systems.
Why it matters: Council members said the measures are temporary pauses to give the village time to study potential land-use, safety and permitting implications before accepting new applications. The measures were framed as protective and procedural rather than permanent bans.
The meeting also included an emergency package of planning-and-zoning code amendments. Council enacted multiple ordinances (transcribed as Ordinances 39–42-2026) that revise use regulations, petition procedures for zone changes, enforcement and fee schedules and restate provisions for the board of zoning appeals. Each ordinance was adopted after motions to suspend the rules and recorded roll-call votes showing unanimous approval as transcribed.
Council members did not record extended debate on the ordinances at the meeting; most items moved quickly from motion to roll-call adoption. The mayor introduced the ordinances and individual committee chairs made the motions before roll-call votes were recorded.
The action came after council suspended the rules to allow immediate adoption. Council adopted Ordinance 37-2026 to place a temporary moratorium not to exceed 180 days on the granting of permits and the processing of applications for business entities proposing to use small mobile reactors within village limits. The council then adopted Ordinance 38-2026, imposing a similar 180-day moratorium on permitting and application processing for battery energy storage systems.
Why it matters: Council members said the measures are temporary pauses to give the village time to study potential land-use, safety and permitting implications before accepting new applications. The measures were framed as protective and procedural rather than permanent bans.
The meeting also included an emergency package of planning-and-zoning code amendments. Council enacted multiple ordinances (transcribed as Ordinances 39–42-2026) that revise use regulations, petition procedures for zone changes, enforcement and fee schedules and restate provisions for the board of zoning appeals. Each ordinance was adopted after motions to suspend the rules and recorded roll-call votes showing unanimous approval as transcribed.
Council members did not record extended debate on the ordinances at the meeting; most items moved quickly from motion to roll-call adoption. The mayor introduced the ordinances and individual committee chairs made the motions before roll-call votes were recorded.
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